Page 40 - Jewish News_March 2021

40A March 2021 FOCUS ON YOUTH

Temple Emanu-El

Religious School

celebrates Tu B’Shevat

By Director of Education Sabrina Silverberg, MARE
u B’Shevat, also called “Rosh away to complete an educational scav-
Hashanah La’Ilanot” (New Year enger hunt, meeting challenges such
Tof the Trees), is a wonderful, as singing and recording a song about
festive Jewish holiday celebrating the a tree, picking up debris and finding A program of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, PJ Library & PJ
birthday of the trees and marking the things at home that they can thank a Our Way engages children between birth and age 12, and their families, with
start of spring in Israel. Considered the tree for. books and activities that enhance their Jewish journey. Throughout the year,
Jewish Arbor Day, it provides an op- Temple Emanu-El sixth and sev- families gather for story times and other special programs where they can
portunity to practice Tikkun Olam and enth graders observed Tu B’Shevat socialize and meet new friends. PJ is for any family raising Jewish children –
affirm our responsibility for the earth with an ecological field trip to Celery affiliated, unaffiliated, interfaith or non-traditional. The program is completely
and its repair. Tu B’Shevat is also a Fields. The program was led and facil- free for families, thanks to the generosity of The Harold Grinspoon Founda-
symbolic date for restoring the Jewish itated by Temple Emanu-El President tion, Edie and David Chaifetz, the Federation and other generous donors.
connection to the land of Israel. Barry Gerber on behalf of the Audubon
Society. As part of a lesson on ecolo-
On Sunday, January 24, Temple gy, the students learned about the park Passover and the Number 4
Emanu-El pre-kindergarteners through
fifth graders and families gathered for and its animal habitat while spreading By MG Berman, PJ Library Community Connector
“Tu BaChutz” (the “15 Outside”). mulch and beautifying the park. ear after year we celebrate over by the angel of death so that
th
Following safety protocols, everyone Whether through community ser- with our family and friends the first born was spared from losing
learned about the holiday, listened to vice, songs, crafts or learning, Temple Yand take in all the traditions of his life. Chag haMatzot (Festival of
the story of Honi, sang a Hebrew song Emanu-El children and families deep- Passover as it has been for thousands Matzah) reminds us that we must eat
about almond trees, learned the bless- ened their connection to Judaism and of years. This year might be different unleavened bread as the Israelites did
ings over fruit and plants, and deco- the natural world while celebrating this once again. Fortunately, we are a peo- when they left Egypt so fast that the
rated flowerpots. Families then drove festive holiday. ple who can adapt bread did not have time to rise. Chag
well, especially in haAviv (Festival of Spring) reminds us
adversity. that we are in the season of spring, the
For Passover, season of renewal, growth and change.
we celebrate and Chag haCherut (Festival of Freedom)
remember its main reminds us that we are free people after
lesson: the impor- centuries of being enslaved.
tance of freedom. We see the importance of time
Did you know (spring), direction (leaving the des-
MG Berman that there is also ert), substance (air to breathe, water to
an important number associated with drink, fire to keep warm) and matter
Passover? Yes, there is! It is the num- (things can change from one situation/ Second-graders Evangeline Wong, Eli Meredith, Madeline Frank, Flynn Berman and Jonah Kindred
David and Sasha Leopold enjoy Tu B’Shevat crafts with Alex and Tammy Jefferson ber 4. There are 4 important Shabbatot place to another). learn about and create their own immigration experience for “Learning on Display”
leading up to Passover, we drink 4 cups As you sit with your family and/
A commitment to educAtion, of wine/grape juice, 4 sons, 4 matri- or friends in person socially distanced
or on Zoom, remember the number 4
archs, 4 pieces of matzah and 4 names
A love of children for Passover. The number 4 represents is more than just a number, it is part of
Passover!
totality and completeness. Complete-
ness in time, space and substance. For For more information on the 4s and
now enrolling: Summer cAmP & fAll SemeSter time, we have 4 seasons. For space, we Passover, be on the lookout for the
have 4 geographical directions (north, Passover Traditions Pack and Activity
south, east and west) and 4 corners of Pack.
the earth to cover everything. For sub- From your PJ Library and PJ Our
stance, we have 4 components of the Team, we wish you a Happy Passover!
world (earth, water, air and fire) and 4 For more information about PJ Library,
basic stages of matter (solid, liquid, gas please contact me at mgpjconnector@
and plasma). gmail.com.
The 4 names of Passover take on Read the current and
the importance of what the number
represents quite well. Chag haPesach previous editions of The
(Festival of Passover) reminds us that Jewish News at jfedsrq.org
the house of the Israelites was passed

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