FEBRUARY 15 • 2024 | 45
J
N

T

he Jewish Federation 
of Detroit’s Israel & 
Overseas department 
and JCRC/AJC hosted a 
unique Tu b’Shevat celebra-
tion last month with our 
Hindu community partners. 
 Tu b’Shevat is known as the 
Jewish new year of trees. It 
is a reminder to appreciate 
nature and what it provides 
for us, and to be thankful for 
the things we take for granted. 
Amy Ostroff spoke about 
her experience as an Indian-
Israeli Jew, the story of her 
parents aliyah from India, and 
the struggles they faced in a 
new country. We were also 
joined by G.B. Thimotheose, 
a scholar and filmmaker who 
explained the fascinating 
history of the Jews of India, 
which dates back to the peri-
od after the destruction of the 
Second Temple. 
Our community 
Shinshinim taught those 
in attendance how to make 
Malida, a Jewish-Indian des-
sert traditionally served on 
Tu b’Shevat. With an array of 
ingredients, the participants 
made their own Malida and 
learned of the ritual and bless-
ings that are attributed to it. 

We were also joined by 
many of our partners and 
friends from the Hindu 
community. “Many Hindus 
express a daily reverence 
for nature, as the impor-
tance of all the elements 
of nature, trees and living 
things, as discussed in the 
Hindu scriptures,” said 
Hindu Community Relations 
Council’s Suril Patel. 
“Trees are depicted as 
sacred, soulful and vital 
sources for life on Earth. 
Kritagnataa, or a conscious of 
gratefulness, looks not only at 
the fruits as blessings, but the 
tree as a whole for inspiration, 
for how it continues to give 
as it ages, while taking very 
little.” 

 This Tu b’Shevat event 
was a wonderful gathering to 
highlight our communities’ 
commonalities and shared 
traditions. We are grateful 
for our friends in the Hindu 
community for their compas-
sion, support and continued 
friendship. 

 

Daniel Bucksbaum is JCRC/

AJC’s Israel/ Interfaith associate. 

Erela Sabag is one of Federation’s 

Shinshinim and works with JCRC/AJC. 

 A Jewish-Indian 
Tu b’Shevat

DANIEL BUCKSBAUM AND ERELA SABAG

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JCRC/AJC

Erela 
Sabag

Saylee Nitin, Indu Patel, 
Amy Ostroff, Padma 
Kuppa and Nandini Patel

Saylee Nitin, Indu Patel, Itamar Grife, Itay 
Nussbaum, Shahaf Harari, Ofri Lellouche, 
Erela Sabag, Amy Ostroff, G.B. Thimotheose, 
Suril Patel and Daniel Bucksbaum

FEBRUARY 15 • 2024 | 45

