# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
IssieRoots is a collection of interactive educational activities for Jewish and Muslim holidays, designed by the staff of Beit Issie Shapiro and for the enrichment and enjoyment of children of varying abilities. All activities are offered in English and in either Hebrew or Arabic so they can be enjoyed by Jewish and Muslim children in Israel and around the world.
The Names of Jerusalem

Did you know that Jerusalem is known by over 70 different names? Join us in a delightful activity learning about some of those names and then take a tour through the most famous parts of the city. Visit Machanaeh Yehudah, The Kotel, and more. On the way learn some Hebrew words related to those famous places.

You can find the activity "The Names of Jeruslaem" on the Jigzi website, using this link:
The Names of Jerusalem
Here is a sneak peek at some of the pages:

Ideas for use in the classroom:

Use the activity The Names of Jerusalem to explore:

Names of Jerusalem - after playing the activity have students look up other names for Jerusalem. This can be a group or individual project. They can choose a name, learn about its meaning and origin, and share it with the class in a creative way, through art, photos, or text.

Pick one of the places in the activity and learn about it more in-depth.

Conduct a survey of the class to see who has been there and have them share their experiences.

Enjoy the activity!

As always, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know if you have used our activities, how you liked them, and how we can improve them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Names of Jerusalem: An IssieRoots activity for Yom Yerushalayim - Tech it Issie

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
IssieRoots is a collection of interactive educational activities for Jewish and Muslim holidays, designed by the staff of Beit Issie Shapiro and for the enrichment and enjoyment of children of varying abilities. All activities are offered in English and...Read more ››

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Subscribe to Newsletter/Offers!

Get a weekly dose of stories on friendship, love, misadventures and special offers. It's free, read it once and you're hooked!

Read the latest newsletter or Editor Bob's Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rosh Hashanah Cards, Free Rosh Hashanah Wishes, Greeting Cards | 123 Greetings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Subscribe to Newsletter/Offers! Get a weekly dose of stories on friendship, love, misadventures and special offers. It's free, read it once and you're hooked! Read the latest newsletter or Editor Bob's Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
כרטיס ברכה לראש השנה- להורדה בחינם - Creative English

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
כרטיס ברכה לראש השנה. כתבו יחד עם התלמידים ברכות לראש השנה. מרכזון ברכות באנגלית לראש השנה. Rosh Hashana Greeting Cards

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Torah for Tots - Parsha on Parade - Holidays on Parade - A series of stories, educational material, fun and games, coloring pages for Jewish children. Visit our WEBSITE at http://www.torahtots.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Torah Tots - The Site for Jewish children - Yom Kippur

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Torah for Tots - Parsha on Parade - Holidays on Parade - A series of stories, educational material, fun and games, coloring pages for Jewish children. Visit our WEBSITE at http://www.torahtots.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Hebrew month of Tishrei falls during the months of September and October. Since the 12-month Jewish calendar follows the lunar year, its months are a few days shorter and thus its holidays vary year to year in the Gregorian calendar.

The month of Tishrei marks the very start of the Jewish year. Tishrei is a month of holidays. Four Jewish holidays are celebrated this month: Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simhat Torah.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
September Holidays - פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Hebrew month of Tishrei falls during the months of September and October. Since the 12-month Jewish calendar follows the lunar year, its months are a few days shorter and thus its holidays vary year to year in the Gregorian calendar. The month of Tishrei marks the very start of the Jewish year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tu B’Shvat Scavenger Hunt The Lookstein Center

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instructions: Click through the slides below to explore more about the holiday of Tu B’Shvat. Click on the link in each slide and then answer the open-ended questions to share what you learned on each slide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In this video we talk about how we can help our students use chunks communicatively - we share 4 ideas that have worked well for us in the classroom. We're using an interactive video quiz in one of our ideas, which you can find here.

iSLCollective teacher trainer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sukkot song- Shaking the lulav - English ESL video lesson

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this video we talk about how we can help our students use chunks communicatively - we share 4 ideas that have worked well for us in the classroom. We're using an interactive video quiz in one of our ideas, which you can find here. iSLCollective teacher trainer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
© 1996-2022 Torah Tots, Inc.

ROSH HASHANA

THE MONTH
OF
TISHREI

The month ofTishrei (around September and/or October) is the busiest time of the year for Jewish holidays. In the month ofTishrei, there are a total of 12 days of Yom Tov, 7 of themYomim Tovim on which Melacha (work) is not permitted.
These Yomim Tovim include the days known as the " Yomim Noraim," (High Holy days), the most important holidays of the Jewish year: Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Four days after Yom Kippur comes the Yom Tov of Sukkot.

SELICHOT

In preparation for Rosh Hashana and Selichot means forgivness. TheSelichot prayers emphasize and arouse G-d's trait of mercy, benevolence and forgivness. At the same time, the prayers encourage us to reflect on our deeds and resolve to improve them.Yom Kippur, we recite special Selichot prayers. The Sephardic custom is to say Selichot throughout the entire month of Elul untilYom Kippur, to commemorate the 40 days that Moshe spent onHar (Mount) Sinai to receive the second Luchot (Tablets of the Law).Ashkenazic communities begin reciting Selichot before Rosh Hashana. According to Rabbi Eliezer (Talmud, TractateRosh Hashana 8a), Adam and Eve were created on Friday, the sixth day of Creation, which wasRosh Hashana. That means that Creation began on Sunday, the 25th day ofElul. Therefore, the Jews of Barcelona adopted the custom of beginning the recitation ofSelichot on that day. The Rabbis also wanted to allow at least four days of Selichot before Rosh Hashana, alluding to the four days that an animal must be checked for blemishes before it is used as an offering. The concept is that we should analyze ourselves before we "present" ourselves beforeHashem on Rosh Hashana. Consequently, when Rosh Hashana falls on a Monday or Tuesday, the recital of Selichot must begin sooner - and it is moved up a week, to the previousMotzei Shabbat.

According to Ashkenazic custom, this year, (2022), Selichot will begin September 17, Motzei Shabbat at midnight.

ROSH
HASHANA

Rosh Hashana, is observed on the first and second day of the month ofTishrei. This year (2022),Rosh Hashana will begin sundown Sunday, September 25, ushering in the New Year 5783.Rosh Hashana is Monday and Tuesday, September 26 and 27.

means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashana Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year (5783). There is, however, very little similarity betweenRosh Hashana, one of the holiest days of the year, and the secular December 31st midnight drinking bash and daytime football game.

The only similarity between the Jewish New Year and the secular one is: Many people use the New Year as a time to make "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to be made in the new year.

The Torah refers to Rosh Hashana as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (a day of shofar blowing). The name " Rosh Hashana" is not found in the Torah's discussion of this Yom Tov.

Rosh Hashana is celebrated for two days, not only in Chutz La-Aretz (outside of Israel), but also in Eretz Yisroel. The celebration of this Yom Tov is marked with solemnity, as it is on Rosh Hashana the whole world is judged for the coming year.

Rosh Hashana begins a 10 day period, known as Aseret Ymay Tshuva, (Ten Days of Repentance) or Yomim Nora'im (High Holy days). These ten days that end withYom Kippur, are a time for Tshuva (repentance), Tefilla (prayer) and Tzedaka (charity). Jews have these 10 days to consider the sins of the last year and repent and ask Hashem and our fellow man for forgiveness before Yom Kippur. More about this later.

A great deal of time is spent in the synagogue on Yomim Nora'im, praying to Hashem that our sins be forgiven and that we be inscribed in the "Book" of Life.

For an inspiring story about one of the most stirring prayers of the entire Yomim Noraim, - The Unesaneh Tokef CLICK HERE.

MELACHA
(WORK)
ONROSH
HASHANA

Work is not permitted on Rosh Hashana. The "work" prohibited onRosh Hashana is the same as that prohibited onShabbat, except that cooking, baking, transferring fire and carrying, all of which are forbidden onShabbat, are permitted onRosh Hashana. When Rosh Hashana falls onShabbat, all bets are off, and all Shabbat restrictions must be observed.

ERUV
TAVSHILIN

NOTE: THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS YEAR - ROSH HASHANA 2023:

WhenRosh Hashana falls on Thursday and Friday, in order to be able to cook on Friday forShabbat, anEruv Tavshilin is made.
It is usually forbidden to prepare food onYom Tov for another day, even f3or theShabbat. However, if someone began preparing food forShabbat before Yom Tov, (on Wednesday), it is permitted to continue on Friday (even though it isYom Tov). This is known as 'Eruv Tavshilin,' literally, 'mingling of cooked foods,' since these foods become part of theShabbat food, whose preparation has already begun BEFORE theYom Tov started, and may therefore be continued on Friday.

Some food (a matzah and a cooked food, such as an egg, fish or meat) is prepared on the afternoon before Yom Tov (Wednesday), and set aside to be eaten on Shabbat. When we set this food aside on Wednesday afternoon, we recite the following blessing:

"Blessed are You,Hashem, our God, King of the universe, Who has made us holy with Hismitzvot, and commanded us about the mitzvah ofEruv."

We now explain why we are making anEruv, so we say the following paragraph. Someone who does not understand the text should recite it in English:

"With thisEruv, may we be allowed to bake, to cook, to fry, to insulate, to light a flame, to prepare for, and to do anything needed onYom Tov for the sake of Shabbat [for ourselves and for all the Jews who live in this city]."

THE SHOFAR
(RAM'S HORN)

Theshofar (ram's horn), is blown on Rosh Hashana. It sounds something like a trumpet. However, unlike a trumpet, theshofar has no mouthpiece. One of the most importantMitzvot of this Yom Tov is hearing the 100 sounds coming from theshofar in the synagogue each day of Rosh Hashana.

There are three different types of shofar sounds:
(To HEAR each sound, CLICK on the name of the sound).

Tekiah, a 3 second sustained note;

Shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone,

Teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds;

There is also a Tekiah Gedolah (literally, "big Tekiah"), the final blast, which lasts longer than the regularTekiah.
It is very difficult to blow the shofar. A Ba'al tokay-ah, (Shofar blower) may spend many hours practicing beforeRosh Hashana.

The Ba'al tokay-ah should be someone who is respected in the community, a person who is well liked and does good deeds. Another person stands next to theBa'al tokay-ah, and calls out the order of theTekiyot. You are supposed to stand during the Tekiyot, but more important, it is forbidden to talk from the time of the firstBracha (blessing) of the shofar until after the finalshofar blasts at the end of Mussaf.

The Torah gives no specific reason why we blow theshofar on Rosh Hashana. According to the great Jewish scholar, Rambam (Maimondies), we blow theshofar on Rosh Hashana to say, "Wake up! Wake up, everyone who is asleep! Remember your Creator! Instead of going around doing things that are not important or worthwhile, take some time to think about what you can do to make yourself into a better person. Give up doing bad things!"

Rav Saadia Gaon gave many reasons for blowing the shofar, here are some:

1. Rosh Hashana is the birthday of the world.

2. The shofar reminds us ofAkeidat Yitzchak, (the Binding of Isaac) where Abraham sacrificed a ram in the place of his son.

3. At Har (Mount) Sinai, whenHashem gave us the Torah, Bnei Yisroel heard the sound of a shofar. Theshofar reminds us that Hashem gave us laws and rules to obey.

4. The shofar is the call of redemption. Theshofar reminds us thatHashem will redeem the Jewish people.

The shofar is not blown ifRosh Hashana falls on a Shabbat.

SOME
MINHAGIM
(CUSTOMS)
OF
ROSH
HASHANA

Why Apples?

The Talmud tells us that "Simmana Milsa" - "a symbol has significance." We perform symbolic acts as a sign for good, an expression of prayer that the New Year be a good one for us. Here are some of theMinhagim of the Rosh Hashana evening meals.

It is a Minhag (custom) during the New Year season to feature sweet foods as a symbol of our desire for a sweet year.

We also dip Challah in honey at this time of the year for the same reason. The Challah is not braided as usual but instead baked in a circle - a wish that the coming year will roll around smoothly without unhappiness or sorrow.

A popular Minhag during Rosh Hashana is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. It's a highly recommend practice, it's also yummy.

After saying the Bracha .... Boray pree ha eitz,
we say:
Y'hee ratzon .*.. sheh-tichadesh alainu shana tovah oomtookah. (*Some add Hashem's name)
"May it be your will..*.that you renew for us a good and sweet year."

On Rosh Hashana, we eat from the head of a fish or sheep. Before we eat we recite:
"May it be your will that we be like the head (leaders) and not like the tail (followers)."

Before eating the Pomegrante, we recite:
"May it be your will.....that our merits be increased like (the seeds of) the pomegrante."

Before eating fish, we recite:
"May we be fruitful and multiply like fish."

Before eating carrots, we recite:
"May our merits multiply."
Others recite:
"May it be your will....that our evil sentence be torn before you, and our merits be read out before you."

Before eating dates, we recite:
"May it be your will.....that our foes be consumed."

TASHLICH

Another popularMinhag of Rosh Hashana is Tashlich ("casting off"). It is performed after theMincha prayers, on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashana, (unlessRosh Hashana falls on a Shabbat, then Tashlich is performed on the second day). We walk to a body of flowing water, preferably one containing live fish, say a special prayer, and symbolically empty our pockets into the river, casting off our sins.

The Tashlich service is a Minhag based on the verse from Micah (7:9) "and cast into the depths of the sea all their sins."

"MAY YOU
BE
INSCRIBED
AND SEALED
IN THE BOOK
OF LIFE
FOR A
GOOD YEAR"

Our Sages tell us that once we enter the month of Elul, anytime a person writes a letter to someone, the writer should mention the fact at the beginning of the letter that he wishes and hopes that the person have a good year. Some Sages write that expressing these wishes can be done at the end of the letter as well. The standard blessing is "K'tivah V'chatimah Tovah," literally "A good writing and sealing," meaning that the person should be written, so to speak, in the Book of Life, the Book of Good, and be sealed in that book as well.

The common greeting during this period is L'shanah tovah ("for a good year"). This is short for "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or to women, "L'shanah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."
These greetings are used during this period because onRosh Hashana the destiny of all mankind is recorded by Hashem in "Books." In these "Books,"Hashem writes in our names, writing down who will live and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life, for the next year. Though these "Books" are written in onRosh Hashana, our actions duringAseret Ymay Tshuva, (the Ten Days of Repentance) can alterHashem's decree. The actions that can change the decree areTshuva (repentance), Tefilla (prayer) and Tzedaka (charity).

It is very important to seek reconciliation with people you may have wronged during the course of the year. The Talmud states that Yom Kippur can only atone for sins between man andHashem. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek to reconcile with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible.

On Yom Kippur these "Books" are closed and sealed.

TZOM
(THE FAST
OF)GEDALIA

Tzom (the fast of)Gedalia is observed on the day after Rosh Hashana, Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the 3rd day ofTishrei.

Tzom Gedalia commemorates the assassination of Gedalia ben (son of) Achikam, the Jewish governor of Israel, a critical event after the destruction of the first Bait Hamikdash.
After the destruction of the first Bait Hamikdash and the subsequent exile, a small group of Jews remained inEretz Yisroel. Nebuchadnetzar, king of Babylon, appointed Gedalia ben Achikam, a descendant of a prominent family of scribes, to govern Judean Jewry. Acting as a undercover agent of the King of Ammon, Yishmaelben Nesanyah, a member of the royal family, killed Gedalia on the 3rd ofTishrei. This act marked the slaughter of thousands and the end of Jewish settlement inEretz Yisroel. (SeeMelachim II, Chapter 25 and Yirmiyahu, Chapters 40-41)
Tzom Gedalia lasts from dawn to nightfall, and one may eat breakfast if one arises before sunrise for the specific purpose of doing so.

SHABBAT SHUVA

The Shabbat between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is calledShabbat Shuva (the Shabbat of Return) because theHaftorah which is read on this Shabbat begins with the words Shuva Yisroel, (Repent O' Israel). Others call itShabbat Tshuva (Repentance), as it falls in theAseret Ymay Tshuva, (Ten Days of Repentance). This year (2022)Shabbat Shuva, is October 1.

It is customary for the Rabbi of the Congregation to give a sermon on this Shabbat which includes the basic laws ofYom Kippur and Sukkot, and devoted to the theme of Tshuva and hopefully awaken and inspire people to correct their ways with Tshuva.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!!

Return to ROSH HASHANA page

Designed by R.A. Stone Design Associate

and
HI-TECH Computers, Inc.
(718) 253-9698
Email.... .info@hitechcomputers.com
Page last updated - 05/19/2022

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Torah Tots - The Site for Jewish Children - Holidays - Rosh Hashana

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
© 1996-2022 Torah Tots, Inc. ROSH HASHANA THE MONTH OF TISHREI The month ofTishrei (around September and/or October) is the busiest time of the year for Jewish holidays.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sukkot Traditions An ancient Jewish belief considers the first day of Sukkot to be the day on which a person begins accumulating sins for the next year. To start the new year off right, many people begin building their sukkah right after Yom Kippur (you can also start making the decorations which is…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sukkot Sukkot is the festival of booths or Chag Ha-Sukkot. It is a seven day holiday that begins on the fifteenth day of Tishrei, five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot Happens at sundown on: 20 September 2021 at sundown (15th of Tishrei, 5782) 9 October 2022 at sundown (15th of Tishrei, 5783)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Match the Cirles and Squares:

Fruit and Vegetable Riddles

1. You put me in your salad. I have green leaves.

3. You can roast me or make chips from me.

2. I am long and thin. cut me up and put me in your salad.

4. I am a colour and a fruit.

5. I can be green, red or yellow.

6. Monkeys like to eat me.

8. Rabbits eat me.

7. I am yellow and sour.

9 My name rhymes with 'hair'.

10. You can find me in ketchup.

Facts for older students:

Shavuot, which in English means "weeks", is celebrated seven weeks after Passover.

We count the days between the two festivals; it's called 'The Counting of the Omer'.

On Shavuot the Jewish people received the gift of the Torah.

A popular Shavuot custom is to stay up all night and study the Torah.

Another popular custom is to decorate homes with flowers and greenery.

Shavuot also celebrates the Jewish people receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Six of them are between 'man and man'. Four are between 'man and G-d'.

Sometimes Shavuot is referred to as Pentecost due to its timing after Passover. "Pentecost" meaning "fifty" in Greek, since Shavuot occurs fifty days after the first day of Passover.

Discussion questions for older students:

What is a rule?

Do you have any family rules or classroom rules?

Why are rules important?

Why is it sometimes hard to stick to the rules?

What do you think life would be like if there were no rules?

Which story do we read on Shavuot?

Where did we receive the Ten Commandments?

What type of food do we eat?

What does the word 'Shavuot' mean?

We eat dairy food and fruit.

The Book of Ruth

Question and Answer Time

There are five.

On Mount Sinai

What do we decorate our homes with?

flowers, wheat and green leaves

How many different names are there for this festival?

Drag the answer to their questions

How do we celebrate Shavuot?

On Shavuot we eat dairy foods. Some 'yummy' dairy foods are cheese cake, cheese blintzes and quiches. We also eat fruit: apples, oranges, figs, dates, pears and bananas.

On Shavuot we read the Book of Ruth, one of the reasons we read it is because the story takes place in the harvest season.

On Shavuot we decorate our homes with flowers, wheat and green leaves. We do this to remember the day the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The wheat and green leaves also remind us of the harvest.

Facts for younger students:

Go over the 'New and Review Words'. Read the text. Highlight the words (from the 'word box') in the text. Answer the questions.

1. What foods do we eat on Shavuot?

2. Name two more fruits that are not named in the text.

3. What do we read on Shavuot?

4. What do we decorate our homes with on Shavuot?

5. What did we receive on Mount Sinai?

Discussion questions for younger students:

Do you like dairy food?

What is your favourite book to read?

Do you know the

What do you like to eat on Shavuot?

What fruit do you like to eat?

Shavuot - Word Search

Find 10 words from the text and highlight them with the pencil.

What's missing?

Unscramble the words and put them into sentences:

Drag each correct word to its appropriate sentence.

Drag into the correct order

We received the Torah on Mount .

I like to eat food.

They us of the harvest.

Do you know when we celebrate Shavuot?

Do you know which book is read on Shavuot?

Do you know how long the Omer lasts?
Circle the correct answer - use the pencil
Do you know some other names for Shavuot?

- Katzir, Bikurim, Matan Torah

- Spring, Asif, Matan Torah

Do you know how we celebrate Shavuot?

- We eat dried fruit and drink wine.

- We read the Book of Esther and eat dairy products.

- We stay up all night and study the Torah.

Do you know what the meaning of Shavuot is?
Circle the correct answer - use the pencil
Use the pencil to help you write the letters.

My 1st letter is the first letter of the first day of the week.

My 2nd letter is the opposite of sad.

My 3rd letter is the first letter of the alphabet.

My 4th letter is the first letter of a stringed musical instrument.

My 6th letter is the first letter of a fruit and colour.

My 7th letter is the first letter of something you drink in the winter.

My 5th letter is the first letter of something that keeps you dry in the rain.
Use the pencil to write each letter
Blintzes - Ingredients for batter

* 1 tablespoon sour cream

* 1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar

1. Carefully crack the eggs into a bowl.

2. Mix the eggs and milk.

3. Add the sour cream, sugar, and vanilla sugar.

4. Add the flour (slowly) and a pinch of salt.

Recipe Time!

Blintzes - Filling

* 2 tablespoons of melted butter

* 1/4 cup of raisins (optional)

* 1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar

1. Mix all the ingredients together till you have a smooth mixture.

Recipe Time!

Blintzes - Time to fry!

1. Take a frying pan and add a small amount of oil or butter.

2. Ladel an amount of the batter to cover the bottom of the frying pan.

3. Fry for approx. a minute till brown and flip over to fry the other side just for a couple of seconds.

4. Slide onto a plate.

5. Repeat until all the batter is finished.

6. Now add some of the filling and spread it onto your blintz and roll it.

Recipe Time!

If you do, click here to share it.

www.debbiebanglit.com/festivals

For more interactive online games and activities for festivals

052-228-3459

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Shavuot by In English with Debbie on Genially

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Match the Cirles and Squares: Fruit and Vegetable Riddles 1. You put me in your salad. I have green leaves. 3. You can roast me or make chips from me. 2. I am long and thin. cut me up and put me in your salad. 4. I am a colour and a fruit.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Shavuot, which in Hebrew means "weeks", is celebrated seven weeks after Passover. Each day between the two holidays is counted. On Shavuot the Jewish people received the gift of the Torah and the wheat harvest begins in Israel. Both events play a part in the rituals and customs of the holiday.

Together with your children, watch the Shalom Sesame videos below to learn about Shavuot and celebrating the Torah. Then try some of the discussion ideas and activities below recommended by Reform Jewish educators to further extend the lessons learned in the videos. If you wish, share your experiences and ideas in the comments sections below!

Discuss

A springtime celebration of stories. The Jewish people are sometimes referred to as "the people of the book" because storytelling, through the Torah and other Jewish texts, has shaped Jewish values and life. Storytelling is also one of the best ways to share Jewish traditions with children. Your family can start by telling and retelling stories of your family's customs and celebrations, and by collecting and reading Jewish storybooks.

The importance of rules. At Mount Sinai, the Jewish people received the Ten Commandments, ten important rules to help them live together. What is a rule? Why are rules important? Why do you think the Jewish people needed rules after they left Egypt? Do you have family or class rules? What do you think life would be like if there were no rules? Why is it sometimes hard to stick to the rules?

Harvesting wheat. Do you know how bread is made? Have you ever seen wheat growing in a field? Can you describe it? In ancient times, Jewish people in Israel used to bring the very first sheaves of wheat to the Temple as a way of saying thank you for the good crops. What are some different ways to say "thank you"? Can you make up a special thank you to the farmer, the baker and the store keeper who all help so that we can eat bread and other food?

Activities

Decorate for Shavuot. A Jewish legend teaches that at the moment the Torah was given, Mount Sinai bloomed with flowers. This legend is the reason that on Shavuot, greenery and flowers are used to decorate the home and the synagogue. Make or collect flowers and branches and decorate your space in honor of Shavuot.

Telling stories all through the year. Sharing classic Torah stories with kids can also be a great way to communicate Jewish values. After you watch the animated version of Moses on Mount Sinai below, your kids can draw their version of Mount Sinai, or together you can create your family's very own Ten Commandments. While you're at it, the biblical story associated with Shavuot is the Book of Ruth, which is a goldmine of values to teach your kids, like the importance of charity, friendship, kindness, and compassion.

Making our own Jewish stories. Many good stories are the result of collaborations between different people, even throughout Jewish history. Have your children work together to make books illustrating their favorite Jewish story-maybe even ask them to put a twist on the story (try setting the story in modern times). Maybe one child can be the illustrator and the other can be the writer, or have each child complete her own page. Working together to tell stories is not only fun, but also a great way to participate in this ancient Jewish tradition.

Up all night. The holiday of Shavuot celebrates the gift of the Torah to the Jewish people, and is a great time to think about how to incorporate Jewish storytelling into your family's life. The most common Shavuot custom is to stay up all night and study the Torah. Kids love late-night festivities, and you can celebrate the spirit of this tradition on Shavuot or anytime by designating a special "night of storytelling," when you stay up late reading your favorite books together.

The Staff of Life. Wheat is often called the "staff of life" and almost every culture has its own special kind of bread. You can learn about different kinds of bread and the people who eat them. As part of a Shavuot study you can find recipes, bake different kinds of bread and eat them at your Shavuot celebration. Some different breads include: challah, pita, chapati, and tortillas.

First Fruits. Shavuot is also called chag habikurrim - the festival of the first fruits. The first fruit of the wheat harvest in Israel was brought to the Temple on Shavuot. During the months following the holiday and all the way until Sukkot, the first fruits of the other Seven Species (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates) were brought when they ripened. The bikkurim (first fruits) were placed in baskets and brought to Jerusalem in a festive parade with music and dancing. You can re-enact the pilgrimage complete with costumes and music.

Watch

Moses on Mount Sinai
Grover and his friends share a story.

Harvesting Wheat
A young boy in Russia helps to harvest wheat on his uncle's farm.

Staying Up All Night
Avigail and Brosh study, sing, and stay up while celebrating Shavuot!

Street Story: Countdown to Shavuot
Savta Shoshana is so excited for Shavuot that she uses her calendar to count down the days!

For more Shalom Sesame videos, activities, and other materials, visit our friends at Shalom Sesame.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Together with your children, watch these Shalom Sesame videos to learn about Shavuot and celebrating the Torah. Then try some of the discussion ideas and activities recommended by Reform Jewish educators to further extend the lessons learned in the videos.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Shavuot - פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
English Sephardi (with HaShem) What is Shavuot? Ten Commandments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Seven weeks after Passover ends, it's time to celebrate Shavuot. This holiday marks the biblical story of receiving the Ten Commandments and the Torah at Mt. Sinai. While many families don't regularly celebrate Shavuot, it's a holiday that's totally made for kids -a perfect excuse for sleepovers, flower picking, ice cream socials, and lots of other fun activities.

Although Shavuot was originally a harvest holiday, today people celebrate the day by studying the Torah, staying up all night, crafting paper cut-outs, eating local foods, and of course, indulging in cheesecake and blintzes. The tie-in to the Torah and Ten Commandments also make Shavuot a perfect opportunity to reinforce so many of the values that parents are already imparting to their children: telling the truth, honoring others, and sharing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Seven weeks after Passover ends, it's time to celebrate Shavuot. This holiday marks the biblical story of receiving the Ten Commandments and the Torah at Mt. Sinai. While many families don't regularly celebrate Shavuot, it's a holiday that's totally made for kids -a perfect excuse for sleepovers, flower picking, ice cream socials, and lots of other fun activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tu Bishvat - Tu Bishvat - Tu Bishvat- Maze chase - Tu BiShvat - Tu Bishvat - Tu Bishvat- Maze chase - Tu Bishvat- Maze chase

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Giving is getting- The giving tree Tu BeShvat 2023

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tu B'Shvat is the New Year for trees. In Israel, Jews plant trees on Tu B'Shvat.

Traditions include: eating nuts and fruits, donating funds to plant trees in Israel, focusing on environmental issues, and holding a Tu B'Shvat seder. Tu B'Shvat literally means the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shvat.

Tu B'Shvat began as a tax day of sorts, when Jews determined which fruits would be included in the tithe brought to the Temple.

Tu B'Shvat has taken on the character of a Jewish Earth Day or Arbor Day.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tu B'Shvat - פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tu B'Shvat is the New Year for trees. In Israel, Jews plant trees on Tu B'Shvat. Traditions include: eating nuts and fruits, donating funds to plant trees in Israel, focusing on environmental issues, and holding a Tu B'Shvat seder. Tu B'Shvat literally means the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shvat.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tu B’Shvat Scavenger Hunt The Lookstein Center

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Instructions: Click through the slides below to explore more about the holiday of Tu B’Shvat. Click on the link in each slide and then answer the open-ended questions to share what you learned on each slide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Below is a collection of Tu B'Shvat lesson plans, interactive tools, and articles created by The Lookstein Center staff or contributed to the site by Jewish educators.

TU B'SHVAT Holiday overview

What: Tu B'shvat, also called "Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot" (ראש השנה לאילנות), or the "New Year of the Trees," one of the four "new years" established by the Rabbis of the Talmud (Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1). It marks the start of Spring in Israel, where trees begin to bloom.
When: Tu B'Shvat ( ט״ו בשבט) takes place on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat.
How: Tu B'Shvat is celebrated by eating the fruits of the land of Israel (mainly the seven species: pomegranate, olive, date, fig, grape, wheat, and barley) and learning about how to protect the Earth. Tu B'Shvat has become the unofficial "Earth Day" of Israel where ecological advancements are discussed and celebrated and there is a tradition to plant trees in Israel for Tu B'Shvat. It is also customary to eat new fruits that you have not tasted before (or have not tasted yet this year) and to say the Shehecheyanu blessing. Tu B'Shvat has also become a symbolic date for restoring the Jewish connection to the land of Israel. Starting in the Middle Ages with Rabbi Isaac Luria (also known as the "Ari'zal"), the tradition of hosting a "Tu B'Shvat Seder" was born. This tradition has grown in popularity in recent years.

TU B'SHVAT VOCABULARY

Translation

Hebrew

Rosh Hashana L'Ilanot

A New Year for the Trees

ראש השנה לאילנות

Shkediya

Almond tree

שקדיה

Seder Tu B'Shvat

Tu B'Shvat ceremonial meal

סדר ט"ו בשבט

TU B'SHVAT EDUCATIONAL THEMES

QUICK TU B'SHVAT ACTIVITIES FROM THE LOOKSTEIN CENTER

**Need activities for distance learning? Look for the *

Lesson Plans, Tu B'Shvat Seders, AND ACTIVITIES

Tu B'Shvat Padlet - This interactive, collaborative bulletin board teaches students in elementary and middle school about customary foods eaten as part of the Tu B'Shvat seder. By The Lookstein Center.
Online Scavenger Hunt Lesson for Tu B'Shvat - This interactive slideshow teaches students in grades 3-8 about Tu B'Shvat customs and history, by The Lookstein Center.
Tu B'Shvat Seder for Young Children - A short Tu B'Shvat seder designed for three to five-year-olds that can also be adapted for lower elementary students, by The Lookstein Center.
Tu B'Shvat Ice Cream Seder - An innovative twist on the Tu B'Shvat seder by integrating it with the "International Ice Cream for Breakfast Day."
Make it Grow App - An interactive online app from Jewish Interactive which teaches students about the importance of protecting the environment.
Tu B'Shvat Seder- A printable seder for classroom use includes appropriate blessings and citations, by the OU.
Seeds of Hope - A printable seder for classroom use with a focus on Zionism, by Babaganewz.
A Tu B'Shvat Seder - An easy to follow seder, complete with discussion points, by the Religious Action Center.
A Tu B'Shvat Hagaddah - A comprehensive Tu B'Shvat seder outline and sourcebook which also includes activities and games, by Hazon.
TREE Source Tu B'Shvat Seders and Resources- A collection of seders, activities, and sermons for Tu B'Shvat submitted by schools and synagogues, from the JNF.
Celebrating Tu B'Shevat - This collection of resources includes stories, activities, and more, from the Israel Forever Foundation.

ARTICLES

The Jewish Earth Day by Candace Nachman
What a Beautiful Tree by Elli Fischer

Videos and Songs

Why in the World Do We Celebrate Tu B'Shvat? - A short explanation of the holiday by Aleph Beta
Tu B'Shvat: What is a Birthday for the Trees? - An exploration of the importance of trees in Judaism by Aleph Beta
What is Tu B'Shvat? - A short explanation of the holiday by Bimbam
Tu B'Shvat Story: Honi the Circle Maker - A Tu B'Shvat story for younger students by Bimbam
If I Were a Tree Song - A fun Tu B'Shvat song for younger students
A Kid's Guide to the Tu B'Shvat Seder! - A simple explanation of the Tu B'Shvat seder for younger students by Bimbam
Planting Parsley- A Tu B'Shvat Read Aloud Story by PJ Library for younger students
Medley of Tu B'Shvat Songs- A Hebrew compilation of Tu B'Shvat songs in Hebrew by Hop! Yaldut Yisraelit
Wisdom in Creation - This animated video from Torah Live demonstrates the connection between God and nature.

JEWISH Environmental Websites

Canfei Nesharim - This environmentalist organization's website includes Torah-based articles and lesson plans.
Teva Learning Center: Jewish Environmental Education Institute - This organization offers a variety of seminars and hands-on programs for students about Judaism and the environment
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) - This organization works towards disaster relief, promoting land, water, and climate justice, and more.

Do you have anything to contribute to this list? Contact content@lookstein.org

QUICK ACTIVITIES FROM PJ LIBRARY

QUICK ACTIVITIES FROM AREYVUT

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tu B'Shvat Resources The Lookstein Center

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Below is a collection of Tu B'Shvat lesson plans, interactive tools, and articles created by The Lookstein Center staff or contributed to the site by Jewish educators. TU B'SHVAT Holiday overview What: Tu B'shvat, also called "Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot" (ראש השנה לאילנות), or the ...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Click to following link to download a file with different activities for Tu B'Shevat from the Eric Cohen website. The levels of the activities vary from Elementary to Junior High School. Make sure your activities are appropriate for the students you are teaching.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lessons, Tu B'Shvat Seder, Videos, Songs, English Hebrew Vocabulary Lists, Games, Recipes, Coloring Pages, Photos and Clipart about Tu B'Shvat

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Peulot/activities for use in classroom, youth group and/or home. Where something works better for a particular age group or situation, this is specified. Be sure to also look over our "Let's Talk About It" section.

Back to top ⤴

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Make it a little outing...

Visit the grounds around you, or look at what's growing around the neighbors or take a walk in a nearby park or the woods.

What can you identify on your walk? Help each other out. If you don't know, it may be good to start asking and getting more familiar with the names (and "workings"!) of what grows around you.

Close your eyes here and there to help concentrate on information coming to your other senses - listen, catch scents, touch for texture, temperature differences, for the feel of wind... Describe to each other the kinds of things you now notice.

Think about all the added visual variety and colors trees provide around us the year round.

How many kinds of animals interact with your local trees in one way or another?

How do you think they are viewing this world through their senses (which in many cases differ somewhat than ours)? If you are one of these animals in a heavy rain, wind, snow, heat wave... where are you looking for refuge?

What it is like to be on a street with no trees or greenery at all?

How does that make us feel?

What kind of mood do we have instead when we are around green streets, parks, etc.?

How many different kinds of "green" and growing places are around you? Like a well-tended lawn, a park, a community garden, some woods, an untended field of wildflowers, a little strip of green by a curb.... How does each make you feel (and when, and why)?

In "Let's Talk About It", we've discussed many absolute needs which rely on trees. We can also think about the fun and pleasures that trees provide, like for climbing, a swing, beauty, shade, as a welcoming place for the animals (and birdsongs) around us, for a tree house...

*For an added little "mission" on this walk, see "Repurpose 2" and "I Can't Draw" below.
Back to top ⤴
Such Amazing Gifts (mural)

Look over and use some of the discussion points in "Such Amazing Gifts" from the "Let's Talk About It" section. Make a large artistic presentation in the classroom or school hallway based on that discussion (or even on the fridge at home).

You can use a large butcher block sheet or heavier paper tablecloth, markers, crayons, pens, paste, and construction paper. Either draw a regular large tree outline or trace a volunteer child's outline onto the sheet. The child lies down positioned like a tree, with feet together for the trunk and arms and fingers outstretched like branches. Trace on extra arms and hands for more branches, and add a nice face :) .

Each child writes descriptions on construction-paper leaves to add onto this tree, describing all those incredible things that trees provide us with.

Alternatively, have the children draw and/or hunt through old magazines for pictures representing the tree's various contributions and wonderful traits to cut out and paste on. Remember, you are looking for photos that demonstrate all kinds of "fruits", so-to-speak, not just the edible kind - even oxygen, soil preservation, windbreakers, tables, paper and musical instruments! (some you may have to label a little for clarity).

Add the bracha/blessing for tree fruit in your design, like on the tree's trunk or in a handy cloud, plus a big decorated toda raba /תודה רבה ["many thanks"] as well. Include some birds, bees, butterflies, edible fruits, etc. in there while you're at it, maybe a swing or hammock...
Back to top ⤴
"Name That Fruit" Taste Challenge (& other shenanigans)

Besides any seder plans and formats you may go with, here's an added activity. Prepare your samples in advance and keep them hidden, like behind a large box. Use this opportunity to first explain and review the bracha/blessing for eating a tree fruit and why we also say the Shehechiyanu [see " Brachot/Blessings" in the "Worthwhile Information" section]. Then take turns taste-testing either with eyes shut or blindfolded. Any fruit or nut that grows on a tree is fair game. If you are working on Hebrew vocabulary for these items, it's an added benefit. Maybe have a celebratory nosh afterwards, e.g. fruit salad that you prepare together plus some fruity cake or pie with nerot/candles for the trees' birthday (be sure to sing " yom huledet sameach" too!).

For slightly older children: You might start off by using the info and discussion provided in "Creation & Fruit" in the "Let's Talk About It" section. Then when you do the blindfolded taste test, you could also give an added hint to each taster by stating which category of fruit the sample falls into - asiya, beria, or yetzira.

For the younger set (and young at heart), at home: By the way, this is also a handy time to play with your food to get into the spirit. Like "make a little edible ya-ar/forest"- e.g. of broccoli, cauliflower, carrot and celery sticks and such (and whatever else in your fridge looks like a mini-tree or other needed mini-prop item - involve your kids in this part too). In our family, we'd stick them all upright in a mashed potato or yam base, to then gobble up after a few ooh's and ah's on each person's clever design and/or dramatics - such as the giant is eating the garden, ack! Or bring in a few (well-scrubbed) little action figures to aid the proceedings. If you throw in a few veggie squeals of "Help! No! Pleeeease don't eat me!", guess what happens next. (Before you go "say what?!", the author raised two well-behaved, large-portion vegetable lovers with the initial help of such occasional shenanigans. In fact, when just mentioning writing about Tu B'Shvat, one son immediately reminded her to let everyone know that [his favorite veg] broccoli was definitely the coolest tree).
Back to top ⤴
Feed Your Fine-Feathered Friends

Shabbat Shira falls around the time of Tu B'Shvat - Sabbath of Song/Praise. The Torah portion for that week [ Beshallah, Exodus 13:17- 17:16] includes a special song of praise and thanks for the miracle of crossing the Red Sea. It is also recounted that Moshe told the people that a double portion of manna would fall on the sixth day, to make up for none on Shabbat. Some wise-guys decided to try to show him up as a charlatan though, by spreading some manna around on Shabbat. The birds showed them up instead by eating it all. From this event plus their lovely singing, taken as a natural constant praise of G-d, it is customary to feed the birds especially around this time.

So let's make them a suitably celebratory nosh too:

Start off with a really neat-o fact about birds and Israel-
Kind of akin to some of the heavier-trafficked major airports and flight routes, Israel happens to be a key natural hub for the avian version. This is due to our location - where three continents meet (show this to your kids on a map). We are a mecca for a plethora of bird species, with an estimated half a billion birds (!!!) migrating through here twice each year, and some types also hanging around for a stretch. This fact also makes us a super-favorite destination for bird-watching fans from all around the world :) . Look over some great photos here: http://natureisrael.org/Birding

While the following suggestions work great for any age, we want to note that these are right up the alley for even tiny tots:

1. Pine cones (especially larger ones) happen to make really fine bird-feeders. If you don't have these handy though, a spent cardboard paper roll will work well too - for hanging you can either run the string through the length of the tube or through two holes that you make at one end. We'd recommend using the heavier cardboard kind (e.g. used for foil and saran wrap).

Spread peanut butter all over the tube, or in and around the crevices of the pine cone. Pour birdseed into a shallow pan and roll your PB'ed feeder in the seed. Hang up your feeder outside and keep an eye out for what happens.

2. Another option: Cut stale bread into quarters, and make a little hole in the center of each piece. Add some cereal (the loops/holed kind) and old pretzels. Run string through all this to hang outside. (We've heard some folks string apple and carrot slices in these as well).

3. Nest Aid!: Get some kind of net bag (like from potato packaging, or a sock net bag, etc). Fill it with the lint from your clothes dryer. Hang it outside. Here's hoping that your bag becomes a little nest-supply "Home Depot" by word-of-beak.

Back to top ⤴
Know Any Israeli Trees?

Besides it being a good idea to get to know your local trees and their habits, why not get to know a few of ours? Of course we encourage you to contribute to JNF (and thank you!) and to similar organizations to plant more trees here and elsewhere as needed in the world. (Perhaps discuss having a bake sale or other activity to make a group donation). We'd just like to make this feel a little more familiar, instead of a kind of distant faceless general "tree".

Judaica stores often sell packs of cards of Israeli flora and fauna - now would be a good time to play some simple games using those. As an alternative, we've also listed just a few winners right here. If it's one of our seven praised species from the Bible - which are wheat, barley, grape (wine), fig, pomegranate, and date (honey) - we remind you with an asterisk. This is also a good precursor to any taste test or nosh activities...

You can start off this orientation by hearing and learning Naomi Shemer's much beloved song Chorshat Ha-ekaliptus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAqKPcsLiYc sung here by Ofira Gluska. The lyrics are included as video Hebrew subtitles and also transliterated in the "About" section. You can find them here too, with English translation included: http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=chorshathaekaliptus

שיטה / - it has a major role in the desert ecosystem. According to the Bible, the Tabernacle was made from its wood. http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=196

/ , which is also used as an Israeli name (either sex). Almond: שקדיה shekedia - first (and quite pretty) bloomer of spring. The word for almond is http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=27 shaked שקד

The shkedia is the star in the song Tu B'Shvat Higia, which you can listen to here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30AdbEJn-kk

and the lyrics can be found here- http://www.hebrewsongs.com/?song=hashkediyahporachat

/ Black Mulberry: tut shachor . Delicious! http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=1472

See more in "From Generation To Generation" in the "Let's Talk About It" section.

/ Cedar of Lebanon: erez halevanon - northern Israel; a symbol of power and prestige, with many Biblical references. King Solomon used this wood in constructing the First Temple. Erez is also a boy's name.

/ / Citrus tree: עץ הדר etz hadar. Citrus fruit is פרי הדר pri hadar. We've got terrific oranges, grapefruits, lemons, pomelas, clementinas, kumquats...

/ Cypress: ברוש brosh - windbreaker, afforestation, wood source, ornamental. http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=2361

/ Date Palm*: tamar - Nutritious treat, like Nature's candy. Newer, still-closed leaves from the center of the tree are taken to serve as palm branches ( lulav)- one of the four species used on Sukkot. Tamar is also a common girl's name. http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=203

/ Eucalyptus: ekaliptus- (various types grow here); forestation, windbreaker, soil protection, originally also for draining swamp areas in the north (thus also helping to clean up a big malaria problem). http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=259

/ Fig*: תאנה te-ena. Talk about a long history! Part of semi-fossilized remains indicate that one of the very first plants cultivated by humans was the edible fig! Another jam-packed-with-nutrition champ.

/ Oak: alon - king of the trees. Alon is also a common boy's name. http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=370

/ Olive*: etz zayit . We in Israel can't imagine life without an abundance of olives and olive oil. And of course there are the great health benefits. http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=202

***Learn some more about olives here (and make some olive paste!): http://www.learnhebrewpod.com/explore/jewish-holidays/chanukah/recipes#chapter-8

/ Pomegranate*: rimon. Very popular, tasty, a great addition to tons of varied dishes, plus increasingly touted for its health benefits.

http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=434

/ Stone Pine: אורן הצנובר oren hatznobar. This variety of pine (we've more) is one that produces larger pine cones - like for making a great birdfeeder. Its pinenuts ( tznobar) are edible and used in cooking. A popular dish here is hummus with tznobar - try it, you'll love it. Oren is also a common boy's name.

http://www.wildflowers.co.il/kkl/english/plant.asp?ID=286

See "I Came to Israel and Planted a..." and "Hollywood Squares" below as a good way to play with this info and other things you may be teaching or reviewing.

Deforestation is a worldwide problem - due to less scrupulous loggers, developers, urban expansion, poorly planned switches to agricultural/food needs. It has dire consequences for all of us, which you might discuss. We encourage you, as part of tikun olam, to aid reforestation efforts here and/or choose another target in the world, and/or supporting alternative projects concerned with wiser agricultural (food-producing) solutions.

In addition to this, in keeping with the netiat simcha custom of planting to mark a joyous occasion, why not plant a new tree in your garden - like for a lifecycle event, or a "class tree" at your school or synagogue? In many kibbutzim this is an active practice each Tu B'Shvat, where everyone gathers together for a ceremony where a new tree sapling is planted for each new baby born that year and sometimes also for other meaningful personal events and memorializations.

If your class or family is thinking about a spring garden, this is a good time to start discussing plans for that too.
Back to top ⤴
Repurpose 1 - Plant A Lil' Somethin' Now

Ok, you may locally have snow on the ground. But why not start something indoors (a la literal kitchen garden on the windowsill)? You could plant some parsley/ petrozilia to get a jumpstart on Passover, for example. Or spearmint/ nana which is terrific in tea. Did you know that if you buy fresh sprigs of nana even from the supermarket, you can get the sprig to grow roots by placing it in water? Then you switch it to a little pot of dirt. Transfer it into your garden later (water liberally) and just watch it take off and spread. (The same will happen to planting parsley later in your garden.... With a little luck it reseeds and spreads too; very handy for those of us who use a lot of it in soups from scratch).

Brainstorm what you have in your fridge that can be coaxed into growing. Like a potato, yam (nice flowers and great foliage), carrot top, pineapple top, citrus seed, avocado pit, olive pit (yes, that worked in a home experiment, but perhaps it also helps a lot that we live in the right geography), citrus seeds, pepper seeds, a squishy tomato, garlic, onion, scallion...

It's also worth mentioning that it's good to save spent, dried leftover heads from flowers (like marigolds, zinnias, daisies...) and that taking a little piece off of some plants- like succulents- and sticking it in some dirt makes for easy-peasy new plants.

Tu B'Shvat is about renewing and strengthening our ties with the growing natural world, so in this spirit we encourage you to become a bit of an amateur investigating botanist. If you think this takes much know-how and green-thumb talent, the author can assure you that she and her children produced some fascinating things on no talent or special garden supplies whatsoever. We simply said "what if we try this" and "that looks cool- let's put it in some water or dirt and see what happens"...and were regularly shocked at just how often things did happen, sprouting and/or rooting and producing pretty or edible things. (Or useful- just think of aloe!) If we ever purchased anything at all in a plant place, the first question was actually "how hard is this to kill?", and "how easily can I make more plants from it?" (e.g. take a piece off, or divide the root clump in half with a knife, or throw a piece in a corner and see what accidently happens (e.g. jade plants!)...

"I have no supplies": You really can get by with old kitchen utensils/silverware/chopsticks etc, packaging (like yogurt cups for little plant or seedling- starters work fine - just punch a few drainage holes), other repurposed containers (see below), and okay, a hand spade is sometimes nice.

"I have no space for an outdoor garden later": Use the windowsill (my grandmother built an amazing veritable jungle in South Philly based only on stuff anchored on windowsills and then trailing and fanning out everywhere. She lived on a street that was only concrete and trolley tracks, with no vegetation in sight; which you completely forgot upon entering such a cheerfully green home). As to "outside", Tel Aviv is as space-cramped as anything, so container gardens crop up on many small porches and hanging down from windows and grates. After all, G-d created 3 dimensions. You'd be surprised at what you can grow vertically upward or downward that was never originally intended to do so (like cucumbers, zucchinis tomatoes, honeydews...).

Brainstorm some recycling ideas for containers- both little ones for indoors and maybe some outdoor ones for "later". We have used cans, old shoes, boots, crocs (they hang nicely on an outside wall or fence), hanging knapsacks, jeans, plastic bottles, coconut shells, a worn-out and stripped-down baby carriage (we love wheel-able vegetation), old toys e.g. a plastic dump-truck... The possibilities are practically endless (as well as what prop supports and hanging methods we've used for vertical growing). "Trash" turns into an adventure and the most creative of opportunities.

Back to the first easy basics for a moment: If you are looking for an angle in class instead of home, we suggest holding the refrigerator brainstorming discussion, and also give them parsley and/or other herb seeds to take home to start off. Even better if they learn the Hebrew name of whatever they are growing. Make a point of setting a date for a review discussion in another month or so, to share what's working out. If the kids have the capability- e.g. phones with cameras, have them snap pics to bring in to share and/or to post on a class, school or synagogue site or Facebook page.
Back to top ⤴
Repurpose 2 - Make a Bottle or Bead Tree

The next time you see large downed branches from pruning or a storm, grab it. Stick it in your lawn/garden. Start putting colored-glass wine bottles on the limbs. (Soak off the labels. If they are difficult to remove due to stubborn adhesive, spread vegetable oil on them with a paper towel or cotton ball and let them sit a bit. The label should become easier to scrape off, and then just wash off the oil residue with soap and water). A bottle tree is a lovely sight in winter, as well as for added variety and/or when some of the gardening doesn't work out later. Mini-trees using little colored glass or translucent plastic bottles work well too, either for your garden or on a window sill.

For a class project going more the mini-route:

This is when to start asking for donations of old toy baby-beads (those colorful plastic and wood kinds), beads from clunky broken costume jewelry and/or making a quick trip to the Goodwill store, etc. If you live near a beach area, little shells with some holes in them work great too (we save these up for lots of projects). Colorful bottle-caps can also be turned into beads by making a hole in them- it's easy to do with old used-up or broken cuticle shears, for example (make a bunch while watching TV for an hour). Go twig hunting. Stick the beads or whatever on the branched little ends. Sometimes it's a nice effect to gently bend two nearby thinner ends together and put a bead over that, holding them together. For indoors, you can anchor your "tree" in a bottle filled with some sand or pebbles. We just stuck a few of these variations directly in the ground around our garden- lined up with windows- and were surprised by all the "wow" compliments, so give it a try. We used large glass beads from old junk-jewelry and also small medicine bottles, with a nice effect in the sun, as well as the window view from within the house. At night, in reversal, the light shining from our windows glowed them up outside too. (The same idea works on a windowsill, of course). If you want this to be less bug-prone and more permanent, just check your branch first for any obvious infestation, rinse it, maybe peel the bark off (and don't use green wood).

(If this is a home project and you want to get very fancy and carried away, use a wood sealant or varnish of some sort).

For more garden and tree décor projects, by the way, including hanging bottle-cap snakes and coils, whirligigs, etc. - look here (from our Sukkot packet) - http://www.learnhebrewpod.com/explore/jewish-holidays/sukkot/activities#chapter-4

Cap beads are versatile and easy to prep. When we did these at home while living on kibbutz, the kindergarten teachers heard about it from a few kids, took a peek, and next thing we knew a burst of hanging kid creations appeared in their play-yards too. It's also a great activity at birthday parties.
Back to top ⤴
Repurpose 3 "What If I Had a Busted...."

The idea here is to help encourage a different mindset and creative thinking. We throw out so many things unfortunately without a second thought. So have a practice brainstorming session. You can even have the kids prepare ideas in teams.

For only a couple examples to get things going:

So the legs went on a nice looking chair. Why not hang it on the wall as an interesting shelf?

Turn a door into a table or desk top. (Buying Ikea legs costs less than getting a whole new thing).

Old drawers turned on their side and then anchored on a wall make great shelves.

We had a tubular-metal sofa frame (simple garden type) ready to throw. Nice curves to it. We upended it, went "huh!", and stuck it in the garden- planted flowers below, threw an old board on the "top level" and put some potted plants on that with a variety of growth patterns, including some of which started spreading nicely downward. We hung some homemade wind-chimes on it too, and a little wire spiral that we "beaded" with leftover buttons. It all became another ooh-ah garden feature.
The point here is: Before you just throw something (especially if it's something you especially liked)- turn it upside down, sideways, diagonally, inside-out...

Here's some starters for you:

What could we do with an old shower curtain, suitcases, broken table, skateboard (it's a surface with wheels!), car tire, bike tire, crib parts, old spoons and forks, keys, wire leftovers, mugs, picture frames, socks with worn bottoms, unwearable stockings or tights with runs, cut-off shirtsleeves, umbrella that won't shut anymore or is torn....

Have your children think of more challenge objects too. Or after a few rounds given by you, have each team give the other team their next challenge object to create suggestions for.

Added challenge: How many ways can you reuse (or even build with) soda bottles?

Reducing, recycling, reusing and repurposing are finally The "In" Thing. It's increasing hit the big leagues nowadays- they even make this the theme of major yearly international design contests. It's also given birth to some fascinating artworks, jewelry and craft-wares, some also quite upscale. This atmosphere is a perfect fit with Jewish values, like proper appreciation for G-d's creations, tikun olam (improving our world) and the themes of Tu B'Shvat.
Back to top ⤴
"Guess the Word" in Slo-Mo (& more)

It's not really "guessing", more a matter of focusing differently. Learning foreign words is tough enough. It's even harder when less frequent and somewhat disconnected in some scenarios in the overseas Jewish world. This "game" actually started as laidback therapy practice for a child with both substantial auditory-processing and articulation problems. We would play it in fairly short snatches on walks, at the pool, sitting outside, in car-rides, etc. Lo and behold, every time any other child was around it was like some magic magnet- they invariably begged to "play" too. Funnily enough, the child who had the learning and motor disabilities often did better and faster than the newer kids simply because he had acclimated to this approach (and it certainly improved his listening and speaking skills, in two languages no less).

Take any vocabulary word or phrase in Hebrew that you wish teach [see our "Good To Know In Hebrew" section, as well as our "Free Collection"]. You will say it reaaaaally sloooow, broken into distinct individual phonic sounds or syllables (depending on difficulty or word length) and even with exaggerated facial work (to "read" the face phonics- with a child with auditory and/or attention shortfalls, this boosts the visual side; in the same vein, it also helps to point to the throat while saying any guttural sound). To demonstrate first in English: d' ohhh g', spread over a few seconds, for dog. Or p' eeee tz' ahhh for pizza. For a Hebrew example: ch' ahhh r' ooo v' for charuv [carob]. Not everyone is so hot at coming up with the word at first - again, it often takes getting "accustomed"- plus some folks tend to be more auditory and others more visual learners- but it's beneficial for attention and really learning and absorbing a word. And they always seem to take it as the coolest game, as well as two more related challenges described below.

After some runs, have kids volunteer to take over giving a word in slo-mo to the rest of the class, or alternatively, if you place them in teams - as the challenge word to the opposing team. Now you have attentiveness, motor-memory and articulation in play!

You can also put the targeted list of vocabulary right up on the board as a "legal cheat sheet" that the kids can reference. (*Sneaky teacher- they are automatically motivated in decoding, reading and visually reinforcing then, aren't they?). Especially for this:

In an opposite "Speedy-Gonzalez-speak" challenge, say a word or phrase as super-rapid (and maybe quietly) as you can and see if they can "catch" it. Again, you have their attention and desire going for you, and also their eyes are repeatedly running through that list- like to figure out what they may have only partially caught. If you want to make it even "harder" (and thereby encourage more repeat glanced reading going on) - then instead of posting the list on the board, put each word or phrase on cards which you lay on the floor and keep changing the order.

Is some of the vocabulary a bit tougher to say fast for a non-Hebrew-raised mouth? So turn that on its head and make it a tongue-twister challenge: Each kid down the line has to say the word or phrase three times and as fast as possible without tripping up (in which case they start over and slow down just a touch). Besides the giggles that inherently tend to go with this, there's SO much repetition going into each child's ears, right? If you have a larger group, switch to a new word or phrase after every five or so kids.

***Included in our Free Collection are multimedia reviews of various animals, fruits, vegetables, birds... So be sure to check it out!
Back to top ⤴
Make Like a Tree ("improv" ideas)

Start off a session with a movement exercise. Have everyone gather round in a circle. You could go along these lines...

everyone is turning their body as little and balled up like a seed as possible...

tumbling a bit as you-the-seed are put in the ground....

pushing up a first little shoot out of the seed and out of the earth...

stretching up more bits in the sun...

getting a nice happy rain, digging your roots (toes) more deeply in the ground for a nice drink...

quickening your growth...

my, you're getting tall!...

swaying and dancing in the wind...

enjoying the music of the birds...

shading a tired hot visitor....

feeding a hungry visitor...

frowning at someone's leaving litter, like a plastic bag stuck on your branch and waiting for help from the wind with that...

losing leaves in autumn...

feeling weighted by snow in winter...

sprouting happy flowers and new leaves in the spring...

growing fruit to give through summer and fall...

getting taller and older and stronger!

For older children, either individually discussing this or divided into teams to make presentations. Take one of these directions:

If you were the tree and could talk, what would you want us to know?

The trees have gotten backing for a public service ad on TV. Put together your ad.

The trees are staging a strike plus a protest march at the U.N. and in every capital city around the world (it's a downright leafy version of "Take Over Wall Street"). What are your demands, what are you putting "on strike", and what's going on your posters and into your chants?

What would a tree complain and joke about if he had a shot at showing his stand-up routine on Comedy Central?

Back to top ⤴
I Can't Draw

So let's "build up" a tree or happy nature scene out of printing bits.

You need newspaper or other table protector, pencils, sheets of paper (heavier is better), "scratch paper" to experiment and practice-print with your "stamps" on first, those "washable" ink pads in a variety of colors, or poster paints or finger paints poured into trays (like the Styrofoam and plastic kinds from food packaging), and expendable items from junk drawers etc. That masher you were about to replace, corks, forks, spoons, forlorn leftover toy odds and ends, caps and little bottles, a domino or dice, ANYTHING, as vary-shaped and/or textured as possible.

*** Another alternative or added option we'd encourage is to go nature hunting for potential "stamps" like smaller leaves, pinecones, pebbles, sticks/twigs, bits of bark, acorns, feathers, etc. to use as interesting printing stamps. Make that part of your "Walk on the Wild Side" (see activity further above), taking along a bag or knapsack for good finds you want to try out.

Especially for the little guys:

Before starting, put some very simple sample outlines of trees, birds, butterflies, bees, fruits up on the board. Ask your kids for some suggestions too. While you're at it- show how they are all made of simple geometric shapes put together, or curvy, straight, bumpy, pointy etc. lines. Ask them to tell you the shapes and kinds of lines they notice as well. Have everyone come up to the board to make more practice outlines, and to help each other out.

Now they make simple very light pencil versions on their paper of what everyone practiced on the board. Again, kids may help each other with this part and also get a little help from you if needed. Then comes the fun part-

Experiment and practice with the various "stamps" on scratch paper.

On the picture sheet, fill in the outlines with repetitive printing. Like in a tree, fill up the trunk with cork stampings in brown, and then a different "stamp" or two and color/s for the foliage part. Add flowers or fruit with another stamp.

Thumbprints are also allowed- or use those to make people with simple faces, etc.

For older children, perhaps set aside some time and paper space for creating a personalized prayer, short poem, haiku, motto or slogan related to trees to add into your artistic creation.

Another alternative is hand-printing to create a tree, as described under "More Quick Ideas" in our Rosh HaShana packet
Back to top ⤴
Tu B'Shvat Hollywood Squares

Divide group into two teams. You will ask questions to review material, vocabulary, etc. you've been learning about Tu B'Shvat. And/or- give the teams some time to also create questions to be used for the opposing team. If you have a really large group, you can play "Hollywood Squares" the usual way by having nine people designated as tic-tac-toe spots who may give a truthful or fake answer. If not (far more likely), then the opposing team answers the question, and the team whose turn it is tells you if the answer is correct or not. If they get it right, they get the square, etc.

Back to top ⤴
I Came to Israel and Planted a...

In a variant of "going on a picnic", each person adds one kind of tree. Each person must also repeat all things previously "planted" so far. This is a good review game of some of what grows in Israel. Of course you can add in more fruits and nuts than what we listed above in " Know Any Israeli Trees?" (apples, pears, cherries, loquats, pecans, walnuts, avocados, bananas, pistachios, plums, mangoes, apricots, peaches, nectarines, papayas... all grow here too). While not trees, we also have vine fruits like grapes, passion-fruit and kiwis, and sabras/prickly pears- a cactus fruit, strawberry plants.... In a higher level, they give trees or fruits or vegetables in Hebrew. The same can be done as I saw such-and-such animals, pets, birds....

See also the activity "Guess The Word" in Slo-Mo, above.
Also note that our Free Collection includes multimedia reviews of various animals, fruits, vegetables, birds... So be sure to check it out!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Let's Get Busy... with Activities for Tu B'Shvat

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Peulot/activities for use in classroom, youth group and/or home. Where something works better for a particular age group or situation, this is specified. Be sure to also look over our "Let's Talk About It" section. Back to top ⤴ Make it a little outing...

# data[].attributes.headline
Jerusalem Day - QR riddles - Places in Jerusalem

# data[].attributes.subject
Jerusalem Day - QR riddles - Places in Jerusalem

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
יעל סמנטה עקיבא

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Jerusalem Day - פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Activities that are related to Jerusalem Day

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
יעל סמנטה עקיבא

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
שרה לייזרוביץ

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Donald Trump has officially recognized that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. This comes ahead of its embassy moving there. For decades, America's embassy has been in Tel Aviv. Mr Trump judged this decision, "to be in the best interests of the USA, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians". He added that saying Jerusalem is Israel's capital was, "nothing more or less than a recognition of reality".

The UN called the decision "a moment of great anxiety". It said: "There is no alternative to the two-state solution." Israel's Prime Minister said it was "a historic day" and thanked Mr Trump. A Palestinian leader said the decision was a "flagrant aggression" and "the official announcement of the end of the peace process." Another Palestinian said Mr Trump, "is declaring war in the Middle East". Israel's Haaretz newspaper said it would help Iran and ISIS.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Trump says Jerusalem is Israel's capital city

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Jerusalem - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Jerusalem Day - Jerusalem Day Worksheets shared by teachers | Masa Israel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
WorkSheets and Acclivities - Jerusalem Day The Gates of Jerusalem: LINK Famous Places in Jerusalem: LINK The Western Wall: LINK Guess the Word: LINK A Trip to Jerusalem: LINK Song: Jerusalem of Gold: LINK The Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem: LINK Mishkenot Sha'ananim: LINK Was this article helpful?YesNo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Lesson Plan Content

In this lesson, students will learn which three religions consider Jerusalem a holy city. They will also learn what cultural landmarks can be found in the city and what cultural symbols each religion uses. This lesson contains strategies for teaching diverse learners (ELLs).

Lesson Materials

Materials to Assist Teachers and English Language Learners:

Standards

National Geography Standards:

4: The physical and human characteristics of places

6: How culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions

13: How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lesson Plan Content In this lesson, students will learn which three religions consider Jerusalem a holy city. They will also learn what cultural landmarks can be found in the city and what cultural symbols each religion uses. This lesson contains strategies for teaching diverse learners (ELLs).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Jigzi is a game-creation tool and crowd-sourcing platform which currently holds thousands of educational activities that teach children about Judaism, Hebrew, Israel and their culture in an engaging and interactive way. Educators can use current games, as well as create their own to complement their curriculum at any level and any language.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
פורטל עובדי הוראה | מרחב פדגוגי

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
High Holidays | English | Elementary | Israel Education Ministry

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Special content for the High Holidays. Here you can find digital resources including on line lessons, videos, music and websites for the High Holidays.

# data[].attributes.body
shana tova

# data[].attributes.body
shana tova