Celebrating Tu B'shevat Together

2nd Year B’nai Mitzvah: Jewish Values of Tu B’Shevat

Making a resolution to commit to helping the environment in our own way
Discussing self-care in relation to tikkun olam, because we can do the most good when we take care of ourselves, as well.
Learning the meaning behind the fruits we eat on Tu B’Shevat

Dreaming up our own environmentally friendly and efficient cities.
Doing some tree-inspired yoga.
Playing a concentration game to remember the mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle”.
Creating Bal Tashchit Pledges of one action we will focus on to do our part for the environment, and envisioning how we want this action to keep developing in the future.

Watching a video about the Great Depression, and looking at historical photos to observe the difference between the before and during the Great Depression.
Discussing the geography of America and Germany are and the differences between a president and a dictator, and performing an interview between President Roosevelt and Hitler, using actual historical quotes.
Talking about how Hitler used the Jews as a “scapegoat,” blaming them, for everyone’s problems, and how Hitler’s propaganda played on the desperation people felt from the Great Depression.

Playing a game to match up different trees to their fruits, to see the variety of trees in the world.
Designing our own new trees based on what we would want to see more of in the world.
Playing a “Trivia Show” game to learn about which items can be recycled, and which items can be reused.
Preparing ourselves to celebrate the new year of the trees, by doing a guided “Tree Pose” yoga practice.

What do trees do for us?
Why is it important to have a reminder (like Tu B’Shevat) to take care of trees?

Singing Happy Birthday and having a birthday party to celebrate the birthday of the trees!
Reviewing the Jewish calendar and identifying where in it Tu B’Shevat lands.
Playing a sorting game to learn what items we can compost, recycle or throw away.

Think about the trees in our neighborhood--do you think they are old or young?
Why do you think plants/trees are important enough to Jews to have a special day for them?

Playing acting games to represent all of the important purposes that trees serve.
Planting parsley for that we can eat at Passover to learn about the significance of planting trees and preparing for the future.
Connecting the customs of Tu B’Shevat and the value of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world, by brainstorming ways to be more sustainable and and think more deeply about our impact on the world we live in.
Learning about the 3 R’s- reduce, reuse, and recycle- by gathering items from our house and coming up with ways we can recycle them.

Putting on party hats and having a birthday party for three trees!
Having a Recycling Scavenger Hunt and discussing ways to take care of the environment, with a focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Learning what we should or should not do to help heal the world.

Learning about the Tu B’Shevat seder.
Celebrating the birthday of the trees by making cards.
Exploring the different ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle by playing a sorting game.

Jewish Kids GroupsJanuary 24, 2021Comment