A Parent's Guide
to
Tu B'Shevat
Tucson Jewish Community Center ● 520-299-3000 ● www.tucsonjcc.org
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Chag Sameach!!! (Happy Holiday). Please enjoy this booklet to use at home
with your child. We hope that you will share in the learning that takes place at
the Tucson JCC. This booklet is intended to expand your knowledge on the
Jewish holiday, Tu B'Shevat, and to give you some great ideas for fun activities
that will help you reinforce the holiday at home. Enjoy!
Significance
Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, is a holiday also
known as the New Year for Trees. The word "Tu" is not really a word; it is the
number 15 in Hebrew, as if you were to call the Fourth of July "Iv July" (IV being
4 in Roman numerals).
Tu B'Shevat is the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for
tithing. The fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years; the
fourth year's fruit is for G-d, and after that, you can eat the fruit.
When you come to the land and you plant any tree, you shall treat its fruit as forbidden; for
three years it will be forbidden and not eaten. In the fourth year, all of its fruit shall be
sanctified to praise the L-RD. In the fifth year, you may eat its fruit. -Leviticus 19:23-25
Observances
There are few customs or observances related to this holiday. One custom is to
eat a new fruit on this day, or to eat from the Seven Species (shivat haminim)
described in the Bible as being abundant in the land of Israel. The Shivat
Haminim are: wheat, barley, grapes (vines), figs, pomegranates, olives and
dates (honey) (Deut. 8:8).
Some people plant trees on this day. Jewish children commonly go around
collecting money to plant trees in Israel at this time of year, as well.
In the 16th century, kabbalists, developed a seder ritual conceptually similar to
the Pesach (Passover) seder, discussing the spiritual significance of fruits and of
the shivat haminim. This custom spread primarily in Sephardic communities,
but in recent years it has been getting more attention among Ashkenazim.
Tucson Jewish Community Center ● 520-299-3000 ● www.tucsonjcc.org
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Trees
by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet Earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at G-d all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only G-d can make a tree
Tu B'Shevat Almond Shake Recipe

1 1/2 C. cold unsweetened soy milk or milk

1 T. almond butter

2 drops vanilla extract

5 dates

2 T. raisins

1 T. carob powder

5 ice cubes
Blend almond butter and milk to make a nice thick creamy shake. Add dates,
raisins, vanilla, carob powder, and ice.
Tucson Jewish Community Center ● 520-299-3000 ● www.tucsonjcc.org
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Tu B'Shevat Crafts
Butterfly Snack Packs
Button Trees
Tucson Jewish Community Center ● 520-299-3000 ● www.tucsonjcc.org
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Handprint Tree
Tree Crown
Tucson Jewish Community Center ● 520-299-3000 ● www.tucsonjcc.org
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Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
Milk Carton Bird House
Tucson Jewish Community Center ● 520-299-3000 ● www.tucsonjcc.org
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Tu B'Shevat Songs
The Tree Song
We grow, we grow we grow.
We grow, we grow we grow.
Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu
Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu
Tu Tu
Tu Tu...Tu'B'shvat...Tree, Tree, Tree,
Tree, Tree.....Tu'B'shvat
I've got a friend
Who comforts me
I'm a kid
And he's a tree!
We grow, we grow we grow.
We grow, we grow we grow.
Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu
Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu
Tu Tu
Tu Tu...Tu'B'shvat...
Tree, Tree, Tree, Tree,
Tree.....Tu'B'shvat
On my birthday
We eat a lot.
On her birthday
It's Tu B'shvat!
We grow, we grow we grow.
We grow, we grow we grow.
Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu
Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu Tu
Tu Tu
Tu Tu...Tu'B'shvat...
Tree, Tree, Tree, Tree,
Tree.....Tu'B'shvat
bless the seeds I sow.
Someone warm them from below, 'til
the rain comes tumbling down.
Pulling weeds and picking stones,
man is made of dreams and bones.
Feel the need to grow my own 'cause
the time is close at hand.
Grain for grain, sun and rain, find
my way in nature's chain,
to my body and my brain to the
music from the land.
Plant your rows straight and long,
thicker than with prayer and song.
Mother Earth will make you strong if
you give her love and care.
Old crow watching hungrily, from
his perch in yonder tree.
In my garden I'm as free as that
feathered thief up there.
Inch by inch, row by row, gonna
make this garden grow.
All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a
piece of fertile ground.
Inch by inch, row by row, Someone
bless the seeds I sow.
Someone warm them from below, 'til
the rain comes tumbling down.
The Garden Song
Inch by inch, row by row, gonna
make this garden grow.
All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a
piece of fertile ground.
Inch by inch, row by row, Someone
Tucson Jewish Community Center ● 520-299-3000 ● www.tucsonjcc.org
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Plant a Tree for Tu B'shvat
Let’s dig a hole;
Let’s dig a hole and plant a seed.
Let’s water it, oh, let’s water it
‘Cause it is Tu B’Shevat.
Look at the sprouts;
Look at the sprouts, they’re coming
up.
Let’s water them, oh, let’s water
them
‘Cause it is Tu B’Shevat.
me
‘Cause it is Tu B’Shevat.
Eitz Chayim Hi
Etz chayim hi lamachazikim ba,
Vetomecheha me'ushar.
It is a tree of life to those who hold
fast to it,
and all of its supporters are happy
Trees are blowing in the wind,
|
They’re blowing;
|CHORUS (2X)
Trees are blowing in the wind.
|
Look at the leaves;
Look at the leaves, they’re growing
now.
Let’s water them, oh, let’s water
them
‘Cause it is Tu B’Shevat.
Look at the trunk;
The trunk is so much bigger now.
Let’s water it, oh, let’s water it
‘Cause it is Tu B’Shevat.
Look at the tree;
The tree is so much taller now.
Let’s water it, oh, let’s water it
‘Cause it is Tu B’Shevat.
CHORUS (2X)
Just look at me;
Just look at me, I’m taller now.
Don’t water me, please don’t water
Tucson Jewish Community Center ● 520-299-3000 ● www.tucsonjcc.org
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