The divisions of JKHA celebrated Tu B’Shevat with a host of learning and creative opportunities. Middle school focused on the land-focused concept of shemitah. They began by learning an introduction to the concept of shemitah and the seven year cycle to let the land “rest.” Students then had the special opportunity to Zoom with “farmer Tal” who works the land on Kibbutz Shaalvim, and spoke about observing shemitah from the role of a farmer. It made an impact for students to see his emotions when speaking about performing this mitzvah. Programming continued with a round robin of shemitah-focused activities including: “Farmers with Faith,” sessions about the concept of emunah and how it applies to shemitah and letting the land rest for that long a period of time; “Holy Pickles,” that showed students in a hands-on way what they do in Israel with the peels from fruits and vegetables that can’t be thrown out and need to be put in a pach shemitah for them to decompose; “Shemitah Game Room,” where students engaged in trivia related to shemitah; and “Rest and Reflect,” as shemitah is a time for people to rest, re-focus and connect to Hashem, students practiced the concept with a restful activity.

In connection to Tu B’Shevat, early childhood and lower school students used a variety of artistic mediums to stamp and marble paint projects using fruits and vegetables as their tools. These art pieces can be turned into high-quality greeting cards. Since Tu B’Shevat provides us with the opportunity to remember the blessings Hashem bestows upon us, students later focused on the concept of brachot on food with Rabbi Srolovitz. Every class had one “bracha bee” winner chosen and all of these class winners competed later in the week in a division-wide Bracha Bee!