Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Baobob at Kibbutz Ein GediTu Bishvat is on February 2-3. Though it lands on Shabbat there are no liturgical changes to the service. Certainly special readings and kiddish (festive food and drink served after a service) that doubles as a Tu Bishvat Seder are welcome and common additions. Add a comment to this post to share your plans/thoughts for Tu Bishvat this year.

Check out these resources:

• Article: The Four Faces Of Tu Bishvat
  By Jeremy Benstein
  An exploration of the ramifications of Tu Bishvat in the Economic, Spiritual, National-Political and Ecological spheres from ancient times to the present.
  
  
• Bibliography: Greening Sustainable Synagogues
  By Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Nathan Martin
  Annotated weblinks and listings of resources to support congregations in their efforts to function in more ecologically sustainable ways, and to support those efforts in the world.
  
  
• Bibliography: References for a Values-Based Decision Making Approach to Greening Synagogues
  By Roni Handler, Derek Rosenbaum
  A collection of resources that help groups engaging in a values-based decision making approach to greening congregational spaces. The list is divided into print and online materials.
  
  
• Bibliography: Tu B'Shevat Resources
  By Rabbi Shai Gluskin
  An annotated list of many web links and one book - all about Tu B'Shevat for children and adults! Includes background information, history, stories, activities, seder readings and more.
  
  
• Class Activity: Plant Trees And Protect Wildlife
  By Rabbi Amy Klein
  An activity from the Jerusalem Bird Observatory explaining how trees support wildlife and inviting kids to collect tzedakah to plant a tree locally.
  
  
• Class Activity: Trees Of The Bible
  By Rabbi Amy Klein
  This is an activity from the Jerusalem Bird Observatory that gives a list of biblical references to different trees and sends kids out into the field to find trees in their own neighborhoods.
  
  
• Class Activity: Useful Art Projects Using Recycled Materials
  By Rabbi Amy Klein
  Directions to make fabric lunch boxes and flowerpots out of used materials you can find around the house. A great Tu Bishvat activity!
  
  
• Profile: JRF Resolution on the Environment
  By JRF
  JRF Plenum resolution on the environment.
  
  
• Program Description: Tzedakah And The Jewish Holidays: Giving For Social Change
  By Rabbi Shawn Zevit
  Ideas for giving opportunities throughout the Jewish year. Connects each Jewish holiday to the concept of tzedakah and recommends a relevant type of benficiary to support.
  
  
• Text Compilation: Tu Bishvat Seder Texts
  By Rabbi Amy Klein
  Three selections you may wish to use in your Tu Bishvat Seder by secular Zionist thinker A. D. Gordon, Haskalah poet Saul Tchernikovsky and Reb Nachman of Bratslav.