W

hen COVID-19 
guidelines halted 
plans for the annual 
indoor Tu b’Shevat festivities 
typically held by The Shul and 
JCC’s PJ Library Detroit, the 
two could have just taken a pass 
on the programming and start-
ed up again next year.
But then, instead of allowing 
the snowy, winter days to be 
a deterrent, they revised their 
plan to fit the times. Through 
the creation of two innovative 
Story Walk events, they brought 
families outdoors to enjoy the 
beauty of snow-covered path-
ways and learn about the holi-
day as they trekked the trails. 

The 35 families who partici-
pated came prepared, bundled 
in frigid-weather garb, aiming 
for good times and cups of hot 
chocolate at the finish. And, the 
forest-like surroundings were 
most fitting, since after all, Tu 
b’Shevat is the Jewish New Year 
of the Trees. 
“We had always celebrated 
the holiday with indoor, fun, 
family-friendly activities for 
our Hebrew school family, 
often inviting the communi-
ty at large,
” said Rochel Leah 
Eliefja of The Shul, who orga-
nized the event with her youth 
education and programming 
colleague Rivki Mann and PJ 

Library parent connectors Julie 
Rosenbaum, Natalie Friedman 
and Lindsey Lienert.
“We’ve always loved work-
ing with PJ Library on our Tu 
b’Shevat and other holiday bak-
ing programs, standing shoul-
der-to-shoulder with so many 
friends, rolling out yummy 
doughs and making delicious 
treats and crafts,
” Eliefja said. 
“That obviously could not 
happen this year, so we came 
up with this meaningful way to 
celebrate instead.
” 
That celebration blended an 
engaging walk with the reading 
of a Tu b’Shevat children’s book 
and a discovery of the traditions 

of the holiday.
Families, mostly with young-
er children, but a few with 
teens, came out to the two 
Story Walks, held on Jan. 24 at 
Heritage Park in Farmington 
Hills and Jan. 28 at Scotia Park 
in Huntington Woods. Some 
trudged the trail pushing stroll-
ers or sporting baby carriers, 
while others were accompanied 
by winter-loving canines.
During the hike, partici-
pants read Dear Tree (Hachai 
Publishing, 2010), the story 
of the relationship between a 
young boy and his favorite tree 
and the hopes and wishes he 
shared for the tree on Tu b’She-

OUR COMMUNITY

Under a snowy sky, bundled-up 
kiddies trek a Tu b’Shevat trail.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

22 | MARCH 4 • 2021 

 Tall
Trees

Tales
 Tell
to

Trees

Tales

with

Riley and Emma 
Cantor, 3, of West 
Bloomfield, get a ride 
along the trail from 
their mom, Stacey.

Hadar Traison, 17 months, 
of Huntington Woods,
discovers a scavenger 
hunt item.

David, Kate and 
1½-year-old 
Shoshi Zenlea 
of Huntington 
Woods, with 
their furry 
friend. 

