Tu+BiSh'vat

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 * ט"וּ בִּשְׁבָט** //**TU BISH'VAT**//

//__**BACKGROUND**__// //Tu BiSh'vat is considered the birthday of the trees, celebrating the importance of, and the need to preserve, nature. Never mentioned in the Torah, is not a holiday per se; there are no prescribed blessings or rituals. Still, there are echoes of the importance of trees and ecology throught the Torah's five books. Not only is the planting of fruit trees the first commandment given to the Jews once they entered the land of Israel, but they were also forbidden to destroy fruit trees during a war.//

//The Torah also states that Jews were not permitted to eat from a tree until its fourth year. To help farmers determine which trees were in their fourth year, a cut-off-date (the 15th of Sh'vat) was set. Every tree planted before that date turned a year old on the fifteenth of Sh'vat, even if it was only planted a week earlier. Thus, the original purpose of Tu BiSh'vat was to help farmers determine the age of their trees.//

//In more modern times, 1884, a public tree planting ceremony took place in what was then called Palestine (on Tu BiSh'vat). Hundreds of trees, including almost 800 etrog trees were planted. Then, in 1908, the Jewish Teachers' Union decided to dedicate the 15th of Sh'vat to planting trees with their students. Since that year, Tu Bish'vat has become the "tree planting holiday" for school children throughout Israel.//

//Today, in Israel, Tu BiSh'vat is observed as a national holiday, affirming the people's connection to the land. Students plant trees together as a class and new or unique fruits (especially those seven species native to Israel) are eaten. Jewish schoolchildren living outside of Israel often collect money to plant trees through The Jewish National Fund.//

//Tu Bish'vat is celebrated here when snow covers the ground in many communites in which Jewish people live. However, in the land of Israel, the almond trees are beginning to bloom, giving hope of life renewed so central to the Spring.//

//In more recent years, some environmentalists have expanded Tu Bish'vat's focus on trees to include broader environmental issues.//

// **__Tu BiSh'vat materials that can be downloaded and printed:__** // media type="custom" key="19997806" //Right click on the image and copy it. Paste the image into a new document. You can resize this image. Print. Or click on the icon and download the document and then print.//

=//Vocabulary flashcards//= //Print these flashcards (a davka document or the pdf version) to use with your students.//
 * [[image:Vocabulary_Flashcards-1.jpg width="242" height="187" caption="sample of flashcards"]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat - vocabulary flashcards.dwd]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat - vocabulary flashcards.pdf]] ||

=//Shivat HaMinim / Seven Species//= //Print and display the seven species.// =//Tu BiSh'vat Puzzles//= //Your students will enjoy these puzzles.// =//Tu BiSh'vat Seder//= //An easy-to-use guide about the significance of the four cups of wine and eating the various fruits.// = = =//Tu BiSh'vat - Taking Care of the Earth Survey//= //This list includes ways to take of the earth. Your students can discuss each item, check off the ones they do and decide what else they should be doing.//
 * [[image:teachercenter-jecc/Seven_species_description.jpg width="145" height="179"]] || [[image:teachercenter-jecc/wheat.jpg width="133" height="188"]] || [[image:barley.jpg width="164" height="190"]] || [[image:teachercenter-jecc/grapes.jpg width="145" height="194"]] || [[image:teachercenter-jecc/fig.jpg width="151" height="197"]] ||
 * || [[image:teachercenter-jecc/pomegranate.jpg width="129" height="199"]] || [[image:teachercenter-jecc/olive.jpg width="160" height="197"]] || [[image:dates.jpg width="157" height="201"]] || [[file:Shivat Haminim, Why We Have Them D-4.pdf]] ||
 * [[image:teachercenter-jecc/find-a-word.jpg width="216" height="264"]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat Find a Word.pdf]] ||  ||   ||   ||   ||
 * [[image:teachercenter-jecc/Tu_BiSh'vat_seder.jpg width="240" height="151"]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat seder - 11x17.pdf]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat seder - 2 pages.pdf]] ||


 * [[image:Tu BiSh'vat - Taking Care of the Earth checklist.jpg width="380" height="307"]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat - survey.pdf]] ||

=//Tu BiSh'vat - SmartBoard Lesson1 - Vocabulary and Symbols//= If you have a SmartBoard in your classroom, this first lesson is ready for you to use. Background information about Tu BiSh'vat is included as well as vocabulary activities, flashcards, a Tu BiSh'vat story and more. Would love to get your feedback after you use this lesson. More lessons to follow that will include customs, values and Tu BiSh'vat concepts.
 * [[image:Tu BiSh'vat SmartBoard-vocabulary.jpg width="320" height="144"]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat '14 - Symbols and Vocabulary.notebook]] ||

=//Build A Tree: A Game for Tu BiSh'vat//=


 * [[image:Tu BiSh'vat-Build a Tree E-8.jpg width="240" height="138"]] || [[file:Build a Tree Game E-8.doc]] || [[file:Build a Tree Game.pdf]] ||

=//Tu BiSh'vat QRs//= // Right click on the image and paste it into a new document (the image can be resized). Or download the pdf. // =//Wordles//= //These jpgs are fun classroom displays. It's a great way to review Tu BiSh'vat vocabulary. Need help creating a wordle. Give us a call.// =//Tu BiSh'vat poster//=
 * [[image:qrs - '13.jpg width="237" height="315"]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat QRs.pdf]] ||
 * [[image:TuBiSh'vat_wordle-Hebrew.jpg width="320" height="237"]] || [[image:teachercenter-jecc/TuBiSh'vat_wordle.jpg width="320" height="237"]] ||
 * [[image:Poster.jpg width="240" height="325"]] || [[file:Tu BiSh'vat Symbols Poster.pdf]] ||