Is it Spring yet?!?

Posted on

Certainly not here in Pittsburgh! But in Israel…that’s a different story. As I write this, it’s a balmy 66 degrees in Jerusalem – there springtime has sprung! That means that the planting has begun…right on time to celebrate Tu B’Shevat – the holiday which marks the beginning of the agricultural cycle and is known as the ‘Birthday of the Trees.’ Check out what we’ve been doing here in the Torah Center to celebrate these past few weeks….

Kindergarten visited the art room and decorated trees:

IMG_20140112_111918443

IMG_20140112_112042927

IMG_20140112_111735169

IMG_20140112_111815379

As part of 2nd Grade family day, students and parents learned about a different kind of tree – the Family Tree! It was fun to remember all the different “branches” of their families:

IMG_0259

IMG_0256

IMG_0257

During our Family Cooking with Ms. Freed program, everyone made cupcakes and candy using different kids of fruits and nuts:

IMG_20140112_130552522

IMG_20140112_130717769

IMG_20140112_131715734_HDR

IMG_20140112_130416614

And our students in grades 3-6 enjoyed our annual Tu B’Shevat Seder. Many tried dates, figs, carob chips or pomegranate arils for the first time [Thank you to JASON RICHARDS for these photos]:

DSCF9310

DSCF9324

Now if only spring would begin here!

*          *          *

Coming Up:

THIS Sunday, February 2nd, from 10:00 – 11:00 am, Temple’s Catering Department will be providing a showcase of foods for possible menus for B’nei Mitzvah-related Shabbat dinner, Kiddushes, luncheons and evening affairs. All families with B’nei Mitzvah’s taking place in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are invited to attend this showcase.  From 11:00 – noon, families with 2016 B’nei Mitzvah are invited to stay on to discuss many of the details of the B’nei Mitzvah ceremony at Temple.  Please RSVP to [email protected] and let us know that you plan on attending.

Join us Sunday, February 9th at 12:15 pm following Torah Center for the next Jewish Cooking for Families with Melinda Freed.  The class is recommended for ages 5 and up and the class fee is $5 per person/$20 family maximum. Pizza will also be available for an additional nominal charge. Please RSVP to [email protected] as class size is limited.

Also on Sunday, February 9th from 6:30 – 9:00 pm, Temple will be holding auditions and the 1st rehearsal for our Billy Joel Purimshpiel! Adults and children of all ages are invited to be a part of this year’s Purimshpiel which will be performed at Temple’s Megillah Reading Saturday evening, March 15th. There will be 7 rehearsals in February and March leading up to a March 15th run through and performance. Be a part of this enjoyable evening!