The program, held at Boulder’s JCC, was lead by teacher and Jewish Yoga instructor, Raj Seymour. Raj explained that the group was coming together to celebrate the Jewish Earth Day, which was originally postponed due to a snowstorm.

[Tu B'Shvat] brings environmentalism into Judaism,” he said.

He began the Seder by talking about the first fruit. This fruit is hard on the outside and soft on the inside.  All four of the fruits relate to human nature. Accompanying the fruit was white grape juice, which is symbolic for the winter and purity.  Fruits such as oranges were enjoyed. Raj and the group then discussed Tikkun Olam, which is repairing the world.

The second fruit was soft on the outside and hard on the inside.  White and red grape juice was mixed together to represent spring.

The group then discussed tree horoscopes from Tree Source and most said that their tree sign fit them perfectly.

“How can you help the earth?” Raj asked the group. Answers like donating money to green causes, supporting renewable energy, planting trees, walking to school and using reusable water bottles came up.

The third fruit was soft on the outside and inside, like various types of berries and grapes. “The Torah is like a tree,” the group discussed. The group then designed their own trees, and drank a “spiritual” red glass of grape juice to represent that they have enough, wholeness in the world.

Lena Linares, a 14-year-old Niwot High School student, said that she enjoyed the program.  “I had fun learning about Tu B’Shvat,” Linares said. “My favorite part was eating.”

Reed Forman, a 14-year-old Louisville Middle School student, also said that he enjoyed the program and that he loves to come to Hebrew High, in general.

I love it.  I love this place. At school, there’s not many Jews. This is a place to learn about our ancestry. I didn’t know much about Tu B’Shvat until now.”

Raj concluded by asking, “What can you do for the earth and for yourself?”

To learn more about Hebrew High in Boulder, contact Sara Goldberg.

Rabbi Wine wrote,

Tu BʼShevat moved out of the narrow Zionist world into the broader sphere of universal values. Today we know that it takes many trees for the earth to be healthy. It takes many people working together to repair the physical damage humans have caused. Tu BʼShevat celebrates our intention to make the world more green and healthy – our obligation to care for and heal the world.”

For more information contact Sheila Malcolm at 303-499-5933 or sheilamalcolm@comcast.net

Beth Ami – Colorado Congregation for Humanistic Judaism provides the opportunity to celebrate Jewish culture and identity consistent with a humanistic philosophy of life. Humanistic Judaism offers a Secular alternative in contemporary Jewish life, and is compatible with many belief systems. It was established by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan, and has grown into a worldwide movement. Beth Ami is affiliated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism.

Tu B’Shevat, “New Year of the Trees” has become the Jewish Earth Day and a time to reflect on environmental issues, the earth, our food sources, and the human connection to our surroundings. Rich in symbolism, the Seder allows us to explore the deeper essence of being through the tastes, sights, and smells of the earth’s blessings.

The seder begins at 6:30 pm. Light dinner including traditional fruits & grape juice provided. Bring your own kosher wine. $10 per person, $18 for couples, $25 for families of 3 or more. Click here for calendar tools including reminders.

Limited seating. This event will sell out. No walk-ins. Tree-based art project for ages 12 and under will be provided. Please indicate in your RSVP whether your child will participate.

RSVP by Friday, January 14th to RSVP@harhashem.org or (303) 499-7077. Payment in advance please to Har HaShem.

The beauty of this is that all of these foods are naturally gluten-free. One of the tastiest gluten-free snacks that my family really enjoys, that are easy to pack and easy to eat anywhere, are dried fruits and vegetables. They love apples, raisins, dates, cranberries, prunes, figs, dried peas and corn, pineapple, and bananas.

Well, maybe it was coincidence or ‘divine intervention’ but my travels this week took me to Kohl’s where I added yet another fun toy to my kitchen: a food dehydrator. I thought I could make some of these snacks from scratch, instead of buying them at the grocery store. I will explore the world of ‘the dehydrator’ and report back to you, but I did make my very first batch of banana chips and my daughter ate them! She said ‘Mom, these really taste like bananas and they are so sweet!’ I look forward to many more successful recipes in my dehydrator and what a funny coincidence that I purchased it the week of Tu B’Shvat.

In honor of this holiday, I decided to make my very favorite cookie in the world, the Fig Newton. Although these taste nothing like the ones you can buy that will last on your shelf for 3 years because of all the chemicals and preservatives they have in them, they are rich and decadent and pretty good for you too. Not only are they gluten-free, but they are vegan AND egg-free, peanut-free, chocolate-free and soy-free. This recipe was adapted from Elana Amsterdam.

Gluten-Free and Vegan Fig Newtons

Filling:
1 cup dried figs
½ cup hot water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Dough:
2 ½ cups almond flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup agave nectar
¼ cup molasses
¼ cup grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1. Place figs in a food processor and blend for 30 seconds until they are well chopped
2. Add water and vanilla; process until a smooth paste results
3. In a large bowl, combine almond flour and salt
4. In a smaller bowl, combine agave, molasses, grapeseed oil and vanilla
5. Mix wet ingredients into dry, then refrigerate dough for 1 hour
6. Divide chilled dough into 4 parts
7. Between 2 pieces of parchment paper, roll out 1 part of the dough into a 10 x 4 inch rectangle, ¼ inch thick
8. Spread ¼ of the filling evenly down the right side (lengthwise) of the rectangle
9. Fold the dough in half down the long side –resulting in a 10 x 2 inch bar
10. “Mend” the seam so the bar is symmetrical
11. Repeat with 3 remaining parts of dough and filling
12. Transfer each bar to a parchment lined baking sheet; bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes
13. Allow to cool slightly; cut bar every 2 inches to form the fig newtons

Makes 20 cookies

I have a Farmville neighbor (yes, a virtual neighbor) who has planted his whole farm with trees.  There are a few animals running around but mostly trees. I love to virtually visit his farm. It seems like such a peaceful place. A virtual land of plenty. If there are trees, especially if they harvest food, I feel like I could want for nothing more.

But, once a year, in the middle of the coldest part of winter, I leave the animated world of virtual trees and concentrate on the real ones all around us. Yes, this time of year, in Boulder, Colorado, it is difficult to enjoy the trees. No fruit, no foliage, sometimes covered with snow, and even the shade is not helpful. But this is the season for the birthday of the trees, Tu B’shvat.

When we were in Israel this summer, we were invited to visited a boostan on our old kibbutz, Maagan Michael. A boostan is a tree garden (mix between an orchard and a grove)  and the one on the kibbutz was like Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden). Banana trees, date trees, many varieties of citrus, vines with grapes, olives, pomegrantes, figs, kiwi, avocado, lichee. It was made as a hobby by one of the kibbutzniks. Just for enjoyment. Trees for enjoyment. Yes. As a tree hugger, I can agree.

And unlike Farmville, where my crops and trees will produce all year, no matter the season, in the real world there are seasons for crops. Tu B’Shvat -the 15th day of Shvat on the Jewish calendar-was chosen as the “birthday of the trees” because in Israel that is when the trees begin their fruit bearing.

On Tu B’Shvat, we eat fruit from trees listed in the Torah: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.

Per Devarim 20;19, “We are all a tree in a field” but really we all owe our existence to trees. So, let us celebrate on January 30th, by eating their fruits, remembering the boostans in Israel, and getting out of our virtual boostans.  Let’s go to our real trees here in Colorado, water them a bit and maybe even give them a hug.

So, Happy Tu B’Shvat and happy farming!