Originally just the day when trees were considered a year older, relevant in the ancient world for tithing purposes—Tu B’Shevat was transformed by the kabbalists of Safed into a celebration of nature, its fruits, and the Divine “tree” reaching toward us. At Tu B’Shevat seders (the four cups of wine borrowed loosely from the Passover seder), revitalized in modern times and inspired with an environmental consciousness, we drink the fruit of the vine and eat many different kinds of fruit from trees—from the tough hard walnut to the luscious pomegranate—evoking different aspects of the Divine and of humanity.
An outline of questions to spark intimate conversation aligned with each of the four worlds of the Tu Bi’Shevat seder
“We are each given exactly one chance to be”
Tu B’Shvat seder focused on environmental issues
Imagining the human as tree
“the trees and we, too, did bloom”
Kiddush: Humanist liturgy
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