In the Jewish calendar, this Saturday will be the birthday of the trees. A slightly bizarre concept you might think especially since we’re not renowned for being the most environmentally aware bunch.
But this festival dates back to the time of temple when farmers used this date as the start of the agricultural year and were required to give a tenth of their produce each year to the priests, who had no land of their own.
In modern times, there is no temple and we have no priests. But the idea of giving away a tenth of your earnings to charity still exists, and Israelis continue to mark the birthday of trees in different ways.
Shopkeepers across Jerusalem have laid out tables on the pavements with platters of rainbow coloured dried fruits all packaged up with colourful ribbons. Employers give their staff gifts of nuts and fruit and on Wednesday I celebrated early by going on a tiyul (hike) with my ulpan group.
We started at Defenders’ Forest in Jerusalem where we took part in a traditional tree planting ceremony. A small, seemingly insignificant act has come to represent so much more in a country where the land is something treasured and something that we haven’t always had. Planting a small tree both signals our freedom to give something back today, entwined with an expression of concern and hope for future generations.
Having managed to get covered in mud pretty much everywhere (it has been raining for a couple of days), we continued on to Latrun, the memorial museum to the armoured corps of the Israeli army and an opportunity to reflect on the individuals who have lost their lives since 1948 defending this tiny piece of land. Like big kids we also got the chance to climb onto tanks and see what they look like inside.
We finished at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, with 600 young new immigrants, from lots of different ulpanim in the area. We ate, we sang and we danced. For me this is what it’s all about, why I came and why I feel so happy to here. There were young people from across the world (Argentineans, Brazilians, Uruguayans, French, Brits, Yanks, Canadians, Ruskies, Ethiopians to name a few) who knew the same words, the same tunes and were all palpably bursting with the anticipation of what this next chapter might hold. For me the excitement was also tinged a huge sense of responsibility, as we were compared to new shoots in a new country, pushing upwards to make a difference and fortifying the historic roots at the same time.
My ulpan course is moving forward comme il faut and although my grammar and vocab are coming along, I am finding the art of fluid conversation more difficult to master. Somehow the words and the grammar don’t come together in a timely manner when they need to. Amusingly, I am finding that Hebrew folk songs I was taught in primary school are suddenly being brought back front of mind as I learn (and re-learn) new phrases. There is no doubt a big mountain to climb in terms of language, but so far I am relishing the ride.
Other than doing my homework, afternoons and evenings have been a mixture of social with friends and family (mum and dad were out for a short visit last week) and trying to find some earrings to match my dress for the Jerusalem Winter Ball – the nearest thing I am going to get to a university j-soc ball at age 26 and a half – which is happening next week.
I know I promised pictures of my flat this time, but I am still making some finishing touches, so I hope some others of my tiyul will suffice for now. Happy Tu Bishvat.
But this festival dates back to the time of temple when farmers used this date as the start of the agricultural year and were required to give a tenth of their produce each year to the priests, who had no land of their own.
In modern times, there is no temple and we have no priests. But the idea of giving away a tenth of your earnings to charity still exists, and Israelis continue to mark the birthday of trees in different ways.
Shopkeepers across Jerusalem have laid out tables on the pavements with platters of rainbow coloured dried fruits all packaged up with colourful ribbons. Employers give their staff gifts of nuts and fruit and on Wednesday I celebrated early by going on a tiyul (hike) with my ulpan group.
We started at Defenders’ Forest in Jerusalem where we took part in a traditional tree planting ceremony. A small, seemingly insignificant act has come to represent so much more in a country where the land is something treasured and something that we haven’t always had. Planting a small tree both signals our freedom to give something back today, entwined with an expression of concern and hope for future generations.
Having managed to get covered in mud pretty much everywhere (it has been raining for a couple of days), we continued on to Latrun, the memorial museum to the armoured corps of the Israeli army and an opportunity to reflect on the individuals who have lost their lives since 1948 defending this tiny piece of land. Like big kids we also got the chance to climb onto tanks and see what they look like inside.
We finished at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, with 600 young new immigrants, from lots of different ulpanim in the area. We ate, we sang and we danced. For me this is what it’s all about, why I came and why I feel so happy to here. There were young people from across the world (Argentineans, Brazilians, Uruguayans, French, Brits, Yanks, Canadians, Ruskies, Ethiopians to name a few) who knew the same words, the same tunes and were all palpably bursting with the anticipation of what this next chapter might hold. For me the excitement was also tinged a huge sense of responsibility, as we were compared to new shoots in a new country, pushing upwards to make a difference and fortifying the historic roots at the same time.
My ulpan course is moving forward comme il faut and although my grammar and vocab are coming along, I am finding the art of fluid conversation more difficult to master. Somehow the words and the grammar don’t come together in a timely manner when they need to. Amusingly, I am finding that Hebrew folk songs I was taught in primary school are suddenly being brought back front of mind as I learn (and re-learn) new phrases. There is no doubt a big mountain to climb in terms of language, but so far I am relishing the ride.
Other than doing my homework, afternoons and evenings have been a mixture of social with friends and family (mum and dad were out for a short visit last week) and trying to find some earrings to match my dress for the Jerusalem Winter Ball – the nearest thing I am going to get to a university j-soc ball at age 26 and a half – which is happening next week.
I know I promised pictures of my flat this time, but I am still making some finishing touches, so I hope some others of my tiyul will suffice for now. Happy Tu Bishvat.
Planting our sapling
Wall of Names at Latrun
Some of the Ulpan Etzion crowd (l-r Linda, Mimi, Gil and me)
