Tu bishvat party

This past Thursday, was the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shvat (the 15th day of the month of Shvat).  Tu B’Shvat is the Rosh Hashanah (New Year) for trees and plant life. Tu B’Shvat marks the renewal of plant growth cycle in the Land of Israel.   Tu B’Shvat is traditionally celebrated by eating a new fruit that one has not tasted for one year, as well as eating from the seven species /special fruits that grow in Israel (pomegranate, date, fig, wheat, barley, olive, grape).  You can read more about Tu B’Shvat online at our website: www.freeofbrighton.com.

We had in  school a Tu B’Shvat Party in which all the children gathered for a communal fruit tasting party.  They tasted from the seven special fruits of Israel (see below) as well as enjoyed a yummy chocolate cake shaped like a tree (a fun tradition that we started at Mazel).

We joined all the other preschool classes in the shule with our beautiful fruit hats.

Matthew enjoying pomegranate seeds

Michael deciding if he should taste the sticky sweet dates:)

Noya eating a pretzel (made from wheat)

Aaron eating a cracker (made from wheat)

Nir eating barley

Shira tasting a fig.

Noya eating Barley. She even asked for seconds:)

Michelle loved the olives!

Daniella enjoyed the grapes

Aron eating grapes

Matthew braving a new fruit - a star fruit.

Daniella and Noya tried the star fruit too.

Matthew cleaned off the plate of this new fruit too ;) :)

As we left the shule , we walked by the table and saw all the fruits that we had tasted as well as the tree birthday cake.