Tu B'Shevat:

Celebrate the hag by cleaning up your campus!

By Leemor Dotan KOACH Midwest Fieldworker

As we enter the month of Shevat, the image of brightly-colored blossoms and fields of green fills my mind. I know it sounds cliché, but the tree-planting holiday is here, and even though the bitter Chicago cold bites at my nose, in Israel, spring is right around the corner and nature is beginning to come alive again.

Tu B'Shevat, the New Year of Trees, falls on the 15th day of the month of Shevat. Tu B'Shevat is the beginning of a new cycle for the "tithe" on fruit trees. Before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E., a percentage of all produce was set aside for the support of the priestly class and the poor. Tu B'Shevat marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for paying this tax. The rabbis set this date to mark the end of the agricultural year for fruit trees to distinguish between the end of one year's fruit crop and the beginning of the next.

According to Jewish tradition, "The earth is the Eternal's and all that it holds" (Psalms 24:1). The land is not ours to just do with as we please – "The Land must not be sold beyond reclaim, for the land is Mine" (Leviticus 25:23) – and we must be responsible for both the land we inhabit and its creations.

Today, the holiday is celebrated a little differently. Most people do not associate the connection to the earth and trees with the ancient Israelites. However, people's devotion to celebrating our environment has strengthened over the centuries. Commemorating the festival by spreading environmental awareness has become very popular. There are many ties between Judaism and ecology; it is a mitzvah (commandment) to preserve our environment and keep the spirit of Tu B'Shevat alive. Planting trees in Israel is my favorite way to observe the hag, but not always the most accessible for everyone. Your campus is a great place to start the celebration and make an impact with a few easy programs.

Here are some ideas to prepare for your Tu B'Shevat celebration:

* Developing a "Campus Clean-Up" campaign and distributing information on the holiday can be very productive, as well as appealing to the hungry environmental activist. Take an afternoon to beautify the campus! Pick up garbage around your school, clean up your quad, conserve energy by turning out lights when you leave your room and try implementing a recycling program with your school.

* Buying a tree in honor of someone through the Jewish National Fund is also an excellent way to celebrate. Check out http://www.jnf.org/index_plant.html to learn more.

* Host a Shabbat dinner for the environment and have everyone bring their own plates and dinnerware and serve organic food.

* Throw a birthday party for the trees! (Always a reason for a party!)

* Hold a Tu B'Shevat seder. This mystical custom celebrates the earth's bounty, the land of Israel and God's role in the world.

* While a Tu B'Shevat seder has become a tradition for many, sweeten it up a bit by having a chocolate Tu B'Shevat seder. Try to find different kinds of chocolate covered fruits or provide a fondue pot for dipping.

These are just a few ways you can celebrate and show your Jewish dedication to the environment. Depending on where you live, it might not feel like spring outside, but Tu B'Shevat is one of my favorite holidays because we can celebrate the rebirth of nature in Israel and take action to protect our environment.

[Posted 1/2/03]