SERC SITES - Tu BiShvat
                                                      January 2010 ~ Tevet - Shvat 5770

 ". . .God said, 'Look at My works. See how beautiful they are, how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil or destroy My world - for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you.'" (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7.13)

Tu BiShvat, the birthday of the trees, can help remind us both of the splendor of nature as well as of our responsibility to take care of it. It's the "original" holiday of the environmental movement!  This issue of SERC SITES contains resources about this meaningful and spiritual day.
 

  • Tu BiShvat Resources
  • Pedagogic Pearls
  • Technology Tips
  • Videos & Book of the Month
  • Calendar Highlights



ACAJE/JOP EVENTS

Adolescent Conference: Sh'ma! Listening to
Our Jewish Teens
Thursday,
February 4, 2010
6:00 - 9:30 PM
Temple Sinai, Dresher
Contact: Elana Rivel

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Brundibar and The Children of Theresienstadt
at The International Opera Theater
January 24 - 31, 2010
Contact: Karen Saillant
or 215-545-4385.


Follow us on Twitter! ACAJEJOP


Forward this issue

Join Our Mailing List

Compiled and designed by
Bonni Kraus,
Educational Resources and Communication Associate,
in partnership with
Elana Rivel,
Director of Educational
Resource Development

Tu BiShvat Resources

1. What's Jewish about protecting the environment?  The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life answers this question.

2.  Family activities, tree tales, links, a videography and more are on the ACAJE/JOP holiday page (scroll down).

3.  Lesson plans are available from the Lookstein Center.

4.  Watch this excellent YouTube video on the importance of conserving trees.

5. Download this Tu BiShvat songsheet - with lyrics in both Hebrew and English.

6.  Teachers can choose from a "take-out menu" of Tu BiShvat games, activities, and stories from Yourpage.

7.  Choose and hold one of these Tu BiShvat Seders!

8.  Make and enjoy this Shivat HaMinim Salad.

9.  Green School Network - environmental learning and leadership

Pedagogic Pearls

"Is a person like a tree in the field?" (Deut. 20:19)
Natan Zach answered this ancient question in a modern poem:

" . . . Like a person, the tree grows, and like a tree, a person can be cut down."  The future for both saplings and children is determined in part by the environment we create.  Words and actions can intimidate people or encourage them to flourish.

You can listen to the song of the poem with your students.  Bring the Hebrew and English lyrics to class and see what the next generation has to contribute to discussions of Torah and modern Israeli literature.

                 Dr. Joshua Yarden
                 Consultant for Israel Education

Technology Tips

GOOGLE DOCS

Have you experienced frustration when dealing with multiple copies of the same document after it has been worked on by many people?  Then you are a prime candidate for Google Docs!  Now many participants can share and edit one Google document and save time and energy. And it's free! 

Ready to get started?  Here is an easy how-to video. 
As always, feel free to contact us if you need a little personal assistance.

Videos & Book of the Month


VISIONS OF EDEN - A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT  V-925
Experts in the fields of science, religion and philosophy explore the relationship between Judaism, the environment, and justice. Original music by Debbie Friedman is featured.  ONE HOUR  AGE: 12 - ADULT


WATCH OUT FOR MY PLANT V-373
A young boy struggles to grow a flower in a narrow patch of dirt in the inner city, suggesting that everyone can do something about his or her environment.
15 MINUTES   AGE: 6 - 13
Teacher's Guide available


THE NEVER-ENDING GREENNESS:
WE MADE ISRAEL BLOOM
by Neil Waldman
The inspiring text and soaring paintings tell a story of Israel and the power of dreams. For children aged 8 and up.