2013 has just begun; students are just back in school. It is winter, and snow remains on the ground from the most recent storm. Yet the sap is beginning to rise in the trees and, in the land of Israel, this has traditionally been a time of celebrating the first fruits of the land. Our holidays are tied to the cycle of the seasons, and soon, we will celebrate Tu B’Shvat. This holiday, made more relevant to us by the Kabbalists of S’fat, occurs on the 15th (the numerical value of tet+vav=15) of Sh’vat. It is a time of celebration – a sign that the days are growing longer and we are
moving toward spring and a new cycle of growth.
Each year, since the founding of The Little Minyan, we have hosted our special Tu B’Shvat Seder to appreciate and better understand our connections with the earth, trees, and the fruits and nuts we harvest and eat. The environment and our responsibility to care for the earth is a big part of how we do things at The Little Minyan. Please join us to be a part of our Tu B’Shvat celebration on Sunday, January 27th, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the Antrim Park Shelter House, 5800 Olentangy River Road, 43085. (First parking lot on right, just after you enter the Park) We will journey through time and across spiritual landscapes learning our tradition’s wise and prescient teachings about the environment. Come prepared to sing and sample the many edible fruits of trees. We will also have a craft and plant parsley for Passover. If you intend to come, please RSVP to Spiritual Life Coordinator, Jessica Shimberg, jkshimberg@littleminyan.org or 459-9593.
