Tu BiShvat around our Progressive communities


2 February 2024 – 23 Shevat 5784

Tu BiShvat was celebrated by Progressive Jews all around the country with a series of meaningful services, Seders, plantings and events.

Every generation had a chance to get involved at Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS).

EHRS events included a Nagila Nursery tree planting, bird feeder making, learning with the shul’s Eco Synagogue committee and the first ever Burns Night Tu BiShvat Seder mash up!

Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich commented: “it was very special to see how engaged children were with all the activities and how well they worked as a team with the more senior member of our eco-team. We all had lots of fun!”

At Stevenage Liberal Synagogue, members joined the Mayor of Stevenage to plant a tree at a new local woodland site being developed by the council.

The community’s Ann Etkind said: “We were delighted that the Mayor and two Councillors agreed to attend the planting and our short open-air service, led by the Chair of our community.  It was great to see a number of our members there to celebrate the festival and contribute to the establishment of this new woodland in Stevenage.”

 

 

Liberal Judaism’s youth movement LJY-Netzer hosted a Tu BiShvat Seder and volunteering event for its bogrimot (members over 18) to explore a variety of Jewish historical and Kabbalistic interpretations of our relationship with the natural world. Read the full story here.

 

 

A Tu BiShvat Seder also took place at Essex Liberal Synagogue, where Rabbi Richard Jacobi led a fun evening.

The Radlett Reform Synagogue Cheder visited Jewish Care’s Sandringham care campus in Stanmore, where around 65 volunteers – including staff, leaders, parents and children – planted more than 400 trees for Tu BiShvat. The trees will be enjoyed by everyone who lives at and visits the beautiful grounds. Read the full story here.

Birmingham Progressive Synagogue used the festival as the launch for a major new project to support asylum seekers, with an interfaith tree planting in a local park. Full details to follow next week.

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