Tu B’Shevat Celebrate Hope and Life

Tu B’Shevat, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat,

was not a big holiday outside of Israel.

Chewing on a piece of bokser, a hard, dried out, dark brown carob pod,

was the highlight of the international Jewish experience

of this holiday known as the New Year of trees.

In much of the northern hemisphere,

the months of January to February, when Tu B’Shevat falls,

is the dead of winter and spring buds seem far away.

But in Israel on Tu B’Shevat flowers are blooming.

In 1949, the Knesset held its first session on Tu B’Shevat.

Therefore, the 67th birthday of the Knesset,

and 50th year in present location, was celebrated

along with Tu B’Shevat, though it was a few days early.

plant for tu b'shvat

JNF had hundreds of small plants lined up on the sidewalk outside

ready for visitors to take home.

The day was overcast and sky was light grey,

outside Knesset

the wind was great for flags.

In spite of the cold,

KNesset for Tu B' Shevat

it was a great photo op for thousands who came all day long,

from young children to seniors.

There are regular public tours of the Knesset.

Knesset plenary

But this was not a regular day,

but a huge public birthday bash.

 To hear the tour guide in the main plenary.,

was only one of dozens of things happening.

Green Kenesset

Green Knesset display greeted visitors at the main door.

The main Chagall Hall is usually empty,

or set with rows of chairs for special events,

but for this special day

Mainn Chagall hall Knesset

 tables and chairs were set up like a cocktail party.

People could sit and enjoy the music

performed by professional musicians, and, for a special treat,

members of the Knesset showed their talents too.

piano at Knesset for Tu B'Shavat

MK Bezalel Smotrich played the piano,

piano Knesset Stav Shaffir

while MK Stav Shaffir played and sang.

At the other end of the hall

Knesset lego for Tu B'Shavat 67 birthday celebration

was a Knesset model made out of Lego,

and thousands of Lego pieces for anyone

Dr Lego Knesset for Tu B'shavat

to make their own masterpiece.

Members of Knesset read stories to children,

produced jam in the cafeteria,

KM Tibi at Knesset

and sat for interviews with media.

I did not stop long enough to hear what Arab MK Tibi was saying.

Down the hall this group was sitting around

Knesset birthday celebration 67

one of the games taking place around the building.

The sounds of music led us to

Music cafe in Knesset for birthday

 this dairy restaurant, turned into a Music Cafe for the day.

Talks and lectures were scheduled,

KNesset auditorium

one was to be held in the main auditorium.

In the Knesset Synagogue,

there was a special mincha, the afternoon service.

Chief rabbi at Knesset synagogue

Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern

joined Knesset members, staff and guests.

After the prayer service,

Chief Sephardi Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef spoke.

Tu B'Shvat foods

Tu B’Shevat treats were enjoyed by everyone.

Lining one of the corridors were the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s

posters on the history of Jerusalem.

KNesset corridor with Weisenthal Cnet historical boards

People of Hope was the title of one poster.

On a day when the mood and weather outside were both ominous,

these young people from communities all over Israel,

including bus loads of Arab high school students,

joined to celebrate the birthday of the Knesset.

It was truly a sight to see.

Knesset on 67th bitrhfday tu b'shabar

Tu B’Shevat plants for all,

Knesset herbs to visitors

the scent of herbs to enjoy.

People of Hope,

praying for so many years to return to Jerusalem.

In the past,

Tu B’Shevat for many meant giving money to plant in Israel.

This year in Israel, JNF gave me a plant.

67 years Knesset,

50 years in present location,

Happy Birthday!

Tu B’Shevat celebrations have just begun,

much more next week.

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