“Tu Bishvat” literally means the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat but it is often called the Jewish New Year for the Trees or Jewish Earth Day. To celebrate, here are 15 Tu Bishvat events around the Bay Area.
This year’s options include native tree planting to restore the Bay Area’s natural habitat, music and crafts parties for kids, guided walks, a workshop on ethical foraging and a seder honoring the seven sacred species: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
Tu Bishvat begins at sundown Wednesday, Feb. 12, and ends at sundown the next day.
Sunday, February 9
Tu Bishvat: Native Planting — Holiday event restoring the waterway and wildlife corridor at Foothills Nature Preserve by planting native species and learning about their ecological importance. Bring reusable water bottle, wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Gloves, tools and light snacks provided. At Foothills Park Nature Interpretive Center, 3300 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Free, registration required.
Tu Bishvat Mitzvah Day — Celebrate by participating in social-action projects to make the world a better place. At Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga. 10 a.m-1 p.m. Free.
Birthday of the Trees — Jewish Baby Network holiday event for families with children up to 36 months old to celebrate Tu Bishvat. Bring a blanket. At Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, 100 John F Kennedy Drive, S.F. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Free.
Oakland Birthday of the Trees — Jewish Baby Network holiday event for families with children up to 36 months old to celebrate with music, dancing, puppets and tree-related crafts and activities. Bring a blanket. At Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Free.
Family Tree Planting — Tu Bishvat event planting trees to restore the native habitat. With bubbles, sports games and a sandwich picnic lunch, as well as fruit-infused sangria for adults. At Turtle Island Restoration Network Headquarters, 9255 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Olema. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free, RSVP required.
Tu Bishvat Toy Swap — Event for families with kids ages 3-11 to trade gently used toys and celebrate reuse and recycling. Registration fee will be returned as tickets to use as money during the swap to purchase toys, snacks and other items. At Addison-Penzak JCC, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 11 a.m. $5, proceeds benefit PJ Library and programs for Russian-speaking Jews.
“Move and Write with the Trees” — Tu Bishvat movement and writing workshop, exploring and connecting to trees through a practice of embodied expressive writing called MovingWriting. At Osher Marin JCC, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. 1-3 p.m. $21.59.
Neighborhood Tu Bishvat Tree Walk — Mike Sullivan, author of “The Trees of San Francisco,” leads neighborhood walk and discusses the history of local trees. Meet at Chabad of Cole Valley, 1300 Shrader St., S.F. 3-5 p.m. Free.
Tu Bishvat Concert and Nature Experience — Jewish Baby Network and Congregation Kol Emeth present nature-themed event with singing, dancing, outdoor play, parsley planting and natural snacks. At Kol Emeth, 4175 Manuela Ave., Palo Alto. 3:30-5 p.m. $18 suggested donation.
Wednesday, February 12
Tu Bishvat: Outside In — Holiday event with live trees, hands-on crafts, Jewish wisdom and rituals, fruit and nuts for snacks, nature-inspired art and a treehouse-themed book nook filled with stories about trees, nature and the changing of the seasons. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 3-5:30 p.m. Free.
Tu Bishvat Family Celebration — Hands-on, interactive holiday experience with crafts, tree planting ceremony, singing, treats and activity stations inspired by the seven sacred species. At Urban Adamah, 1151 Sixth St., Berkeley. 5-6:15 p.m. $9-$36, sliding scale.
Tu Bishvat Seder — Urban Adamah presents its annual seder with the seven sacred species, farm-crafted liquor, seven-course menu made with local seasonal ingredients and entertainment. At Urban Adamah, 1151 Sixth St., Berkeley. 6-9 p.m. $54-$118, sliding scale.
Thursday, February 13
Sound Journey: Nourish Your Roots — JCCSF presents soundscape meditation using chimes, crystal singing bowls and gongs to clear mind and body, promote relaxation and release tension using the Logos Method. Bring mat, blanket and pillow. At JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. 6:30-8 p.m. JCC members $30, public $35.
Saturday, February 15
In Celebration of Trees — Experiential hands-on half-day program in honor of Tu Bishvat exploring the interrelationships of trees, humanity, the unseen world and a Jewish approach to ethical harvesting. With guided walk. Presented by maggid Jonathan Furst with forager Carrie Staller of Fork in the Path. Berkeley location provided with registration. $40-$100 sliding scale, portion of fee benefits nonprofits supporting Indigenous rights.
Sunday, February 16
Tri-Valley Cultural Jews Tu Bishvat — Holiday celebration with farm day, secular seder and potluck. Bring dish to share. At Livermore location provided with registration. 7 p.m. $15, members free. RSVP at [email protected]