Tu Bishvat – Page 3 – The Real Jerusalem Streets

What Everyone Should Know about Bursting Amygdalus Communis in Jerusalem

January 16, 2019January 17, 2019Sharon A

The first thing to know is that amygdalus communis is the scientific name for the almond tree. With Tu B’Shvat, the song of “almond trees bursting out” (or flowering) can be heard throughout Israel in school classrooms sung by small children wearing floral wreaths on their heads.

Every year when I review and remember past celebrations of Tu B’Shevat, I stress over how to spell ט”ו בשבט in English. I have found 8 options and already used two here.

Every year I want to bring to you something new and interesting.

Dried fruit and nuts fill the stores and markets as every year.

Carob trees tower over many Jerusalem, Israel streets. This tree is near the Prime Minister’s Residence. I wonder how many of the thousands protesting there noticed it?

For those of us who grew up in the US, Tu B’Shvat meant getting a piece of dark brown, dried out bokser.

Hard to chew and unattractive, why would anyone want to eat it to celebrate the holiday?

Along Jerusalem streets in time for Tu B’Shvat, there are piles of dried pods fallen from the trees, with new growth peaking its way through.

The Knesset opening and birthday are held on Tu B’Shvat. In honor of 50 years in its present location, in 2016 a major celebration was held.

There was a special afternoon service in the old Knesset Synagogue followed by wine and fruit.

These Girl Guides were celebrating Tu B’Shvat in Jerusalem in 1928, on an outing in Beit Hakerem.

Since Biblical times almonds, amygdalus communis, have been a sign of spring, a sign of new life and God’s promise.

“When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. -Numbers 17:7

Almond, the first tree to flower before winter’s end, symbolized fast-moving events. “…the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home…” -Ecclesiastes 12:5

Anyone interested in the nature and the environment of Israel, with the special emphasis given to the linkage between the plants and Jewish traditions and literature, will appreciate the Hebrew website Wildflowers of Israel.

In addition, their English pages have a wealth of information. Hours of dedicated work have gone into research and photography devoted to the study of wild plants of the Land of Israel, a point of interest for people all over the world since Biblical times. In spite of Israel’s small size it has 2,500 plant species. There are about 100 plants mentioned in the Bible, and about 400 mentioned in the Mishnah and the Talmud.

Thanks to Sara Gold, my contact whenever I need information on a flower or plant. (I know next to nothing about Israeli flora and fauna.) Who knew aloe plants flowered?

In honor of Tu B’Shvat – I searched for the almond – Amygdalus Communis.

I searched in the Valley of Cross on the path to the Israel Museum, and there were no almonds bursting forth, but I did find these first flowers in bloom.

I went to see what new trees were planted in Kikar Safra, Safra Square.

Thankfully some tall palm trees survived last year’s infestation and are standing tall.

I searched the gardens at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence, and there were no almonds bursting forth, but these new potted flowers were enjoying the morning sun.

In the Beit Hanasi gardens there are 60 olive trees, a line of kumquat trees ripe with fruit, but not one almond tree.

Our lemon tree is full of ripe fruit too. In my search this year, I found no almond blossoms in Jerusalem. It is still too early. They really do seem to burst out when they appear.

So it seems as of now, the best place to search and find those bursting Amygdalus Communis is Wildflowers of Israel – HERE.

Tu B’Shvat is to be celebrated beginning the night of January 20, and on January 21.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, falling the same day this year, here is a new photo of the Jerusalem street sign with trees in distance.

Snow is in the forecast for Jerusalem. Rain has started to fall. After sunny morning weather, this photo is again appropriate.

Jerusalem weather and politics are hard to predict. Both can change quickly.

UPDATE:

When snow started coming down, I grabbed phone and ran outside. This was best photo of predicted snow storm, to see real snow, back to 2015 HERE.

But greetings of a happy Tu B’Shvat and Shabbat Shalom, are good to be repeated every year.

Tu B’Shevat in Jerusalem

January 25, 2016rjstreets

It’s raining. It’s pouring.

It was so windy I refused to go outside.

Jerusalem, Israel, was bone chilling cold.

The eastern US coast was buried under mountains of snow.

But it was Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees,

in spite of the winter weather today.

Scenes from last week,

seem much more appropriate for this holiday, than grey fog.

The flowers in pots were overflowing,

outside of Beit Hanasi, Israeli President’s House,

for all to see.

Inside, the row of former Israeli Presidents greets visitors,

and the resident cat was enjoying the sun.

This cat is there all the time,

but most people do not get to enjoy the gardens.

Therefore, in honor of Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of Trees,

I took special photos to share the landscape with you.

Trees line the left front walk way inside,

while flowers are on the right side of the entrance.

Tu B’Shevat is about the new season of fruit trees.

Olive trees grow in several places,

the orange trees were bursting with fruit,

as were the kumquats.

Special visitors plant trees, even if it is not Tu B’Shevat,

and one tree came from the White House.

Flower beds were looking good,

now that Shemitta year of no planting has ended,

but one lone rose was all I saw.

First Lady Nechama Rivlin is a proud savta, grandmother,

and for Tu B’Shevat invited school children to Beit Hanasi.

The cat checked out her short presentation,

but did not hang around to help,

as planting in her new community garden began.

Tu B’Shevat is not a time in the synagogue,

but outside planting.

Glad I was there when the sun was shining!

Now we are ready and waiting for snow,

never know what will happen next in Jerusalem.

Update:

In case you think I was exaggerating,

this is not snow,

but morning fog on road to Knesset,

ready and still waiting for snow.

Tu B’Shevat Celebrate Hope and Life

January 21, 2016rjstreets

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.

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,

the wind was great for flags.

In spite of the cold,

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.

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.

A 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

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.

MK Bezalel Smotrich played the piano,

while MK Stav Shaffir played and sang.

At the other end of the hall

was a Knesset model made out of Lego,

and thousands of Lego pieces for anyone

to make their own masterpiece.

Members of Knesset read stories to children,

produced jam in the cafeteria,

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

one of the games taking place around the building.

The sounds of music led us to

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

Talks and lectures were scheduled,

one was to be held in the main auditorium.

In the Knesset Synagogue,

there was a special mincha, the afternoon service.

Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern

joined Knesset members, staff and guests.

After the prayer service,

Chief Sephardi Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef spoke.

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.

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.

Tu B’Shevat plants for all,

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.