Tu BiShvat is a wonderful Jewish holiday that turns our attention to the nature that surrounds us, and to the early signs of spring that remind us in the middle of our cold winter that rebirth and renewal is on the way no matter what! Okay, maybe the early signs of spring appear more readily in Israel at this time than in our slightly different ecology of Framingham, but the message remains the same. Stop and smell the roses! Look at the gorgeous nature that envelopes our school building, and be a part of it. Go for a walk. Notice things like peeling bark, a rotting log on the ground, the height of a young tree launching skyward, the occasional animal footprint, and beautifully snow covered earth. Today, the Atid students and staff engaged in a scavenger hunt in the woods in honor of Tu BiShvat where quotes from our Jewish heritage hidden among the trees and branches spoke to the importance of staying connected and caring for our natural world. Our lower school students practiced “human coding” outdoors yesterday as students instructed each other to move through obstacles to achieve targets.
Another name for Tu BiShvat is “Chag Ha’ilanot”, translated to “holiday of the young trees”. I was thinking of this holiday’s significance as I watched our children, our “ilanot” touching and moving among the ilanot that surround our school building. May they continue to grow together skyward in health, strength, and peace.
Shabbat shalom,
Brian Cohen
Head of School
Written on January 29, 2021 ~ 16 Shevat 5781