Hava Nedaber Ivrit:
Tu B'Shevat In Israel
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Each month in this space,
L'Chayim will present a Hebrew
lesson entitled, "Hava Nedaber
Ivrit!" (Let's Speak Hebrew), whose
aim is to encourage further study of
Hebrew. The lesson will include a
brief story utilizing the Hebrew
words to be studied, a vocabulary
list with English translations and a
family activitiy which involves using
the new words. The lessons will be
prepared by Nira Lev, associate
professor of Hebrew language and
literature at the Midrasha College of
Jewish Studies. Mrs. Lev also
teaches Hebrew language and
literature at the Community Jewish
High School at the United Hebrew
Schools.
Following is this month's
lesson:
Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of
Shevat, is a characteristic hag of
Eretz Israel. It is call Tu B'Shevat
since the oteeyot tet-vav which
comprise the word "Tu" have the
numerical value of 15 (tet+ 9,
vav ± 6).
Tu B'Shevat is not mentioned in
the Torah. It received its shem:
Rosh Hashanah La-Illanot (New
Year of the Trees) from the Mishnah,
because on this day the horef with
its gshamim comes to an end and
the sap of the aitzim becomes
active stirring the aitzim into hayim
hadashim. On Tu B'Shevat, we
celebrate the significance of aitzim
in our life and we demonstrate our
regard and ahava for them.
In Yisrael, a land of aklim
ham, every etz (ilan) is precious.
Aitzim give us mazon, pree to eat,
wood to build batim, n'yar for
sfarim,tzel from the hot shemesh,
and yoffi for our olam. Aitzim keep
the soil rich and fertile and protect
us from the cold winds.
Although Tu B'Shevat is not the
most important hag in the Jewish
calendar, it has always been a very
special hag for me. Born and raised
in Yisrael, I have special zihronot
associated with it.
In Yisrael, Tu B'Shevat has
been Hag Han'teeot, the holiday of
planting trees, on which talmeedim
of every beit-sefer go forth into the
hills and valleys to plant aitzim.
In 1949, the first Tu B'Shevat in
Medinat Yisrael, I joined my horim
and many other people, to plant
aitzim in a new yaar on harey
Yerushalayim. This yaar, called
Yaar-Hakdoshim, was planted in
memory of the six million Jews
killed by the Nazis during the
Shoah. Today, this yaar conains six
million aitzim.
My saba and savta, my
mother's horim, and her eight
brothers and sisters were among
those kdoshim in whose memory
the yaar was planted.
Although I was very young at
the time, that first Tu B'Shevat left
an indelible impression on me. I
remember the somber atmosphere,
the stifled crying, the tekes on the
har, the tfeelot, the Yizkor, and the
sad music.
Every year, on Tu B'Shevat, we
used to go together to Yaar
Hakdoshim, along the kveesh to
Yerushalayim, to plant more trees
and to check on the growth of the
trees planted in previous years.
Since then, Tu B'Shevat and
the ye'arot on harey Yerushalayim,
always bring back to me the
zikaron of that first Tu B'Shevat,
Vocabulary (Meelon)
hag
holiday
oteeyot
letters (plural)
of
a letter
shem
name
horef
winter
gshamim
rains
aitzim
trees
hayim
life
hadashim
new (plural)
ahava
love
aklim
climate
ham
hot
etz, ilan
tree
pree
fruit
batim
houses (plural)
bayit
house (singular)
n'yar
paper
s'farim
books (plural)
sefer
book
tzel
shade
shemesh
sun
yoffi
beauty
olam
world
zihronot
memories (plural)
zikaron
memory
n'teeot
plantings
talmeedim
students (plural)
beit-sefer
school
Medinat Yisrael
the State of Israel
horim
parents
yaar
forest
harey Yerushalayim the mountains
of Jerusalem
kdoshim
saints, martyrs (plural)
kadosh
saint, martyr
Shoah
holocaust
saba
grandfather
savta
grandmother
tekes
ceremony
har
mountain
tfeelot
prayers (plural)
kveesh
road
ye'arot
forests
VIDEO CASSETTES
"The Twin Jackets," Rabbi Yitzy Erps, at Spitzer's.
"Jewish Symbols — The Magic and the Meaning," at
Borenstein's.
TOYS AND GAMES
Aleph Bet Lotto, age 3-6; Brachot Lotto, age 4-8,
both at Spitzer's.
AUDIO CASSETTES
"Judaism: The Tapes," Yitschak Kagan, at both
Spitzer's and Borenstein's. "Shabbat Yerushalayim,"
Yerachmiel Begun and the Miami Boys Choir; "To
Unite All Jews," Shlock Rock III; Tzlil Vzemer Boys
Choir Vol. IV; "I Am Back," Zohar; "Shaddai," Ofra
Chaza; "What a Wedding," Neginah Orchestra, all at
Spitzer's. Israel Tour-a-Kit; Language 30 (Hebrew and
Yiddish), both at Borenstein's.
BOOKS
Studies in the Weekly Parashah — Bereshit and
Sdmot, Y. Nachshoni; A Story A Day — Shevat/Adar,
G. Sofer; Passport to Russia, Sukey Staysky Gross;
Ezra the Physician, S. I. Revich; Daughters of Destiny,
compiled by Devora Rubin, all at Spitzer's and
Borenstein's.
Spitzer's is located at 21770 W. 11 Mile, Southfield.
Bornestein's is located at 25242 Greenfield, Oak Park.
`Et Chaim' Torah Cake
ANSWER KEY
raisins
Samuel II 16:1
water
Genesis 21:19
Exodus 12:19 leaven (baking soda)
sweet cane (sugar)
Jeremiah 6:20
oil
Samuel I 16:13
eggs
Isaiah 10:14
flour
Leviticus 6:13
sweet spices (cocoa)
Exodus 30:7
cinnamon
Proverbs 7:17
Song of Songs 4:14
(4th to the last
allspice
and last word
Exodus 12:19 leaven (baking powder)
nuts (walnuts)
Song of Songs 6:11
icing
Psalms 55:22 cream (cream cheese)
Jeremiah 6:20 sweet cane (sugar)
Deuteronomy 27:3
honey
(2nd food named)
Deuteronomy 26:15
milk
(1st food named)
Genesis 43:11
(last food named)
almonds
Friday-Sunday, Jan. 20-22
Congregation Beth Shalom's J.E.F.F.
committee will have a Tu B'Shevat family
celebration Jan. 20-22 at the Butzel
Conference Center. Theme for the weekend
is "Finding Your Jewish Identity."
Friday, Feb. 3
A chavurah Shabbat dinner will be held
at Congregation Beth Shalom at 6 p.m. Feb.
3, sponsored by the Jewish Experiences For
Families Committee.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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