Many Ways to Celebrate the Trees’ New Year

Tu B’Shevat, the 15th day of the month of Shevat, falls on Shabbat, Feb. 11. Traditional ways of celebrating the new year of the trees include planting trees, holding a special seder meal, and sampling Israel’s traditional seven species — wheat, barley, grapes (wine), figs, pomegranates, olives (oil) and dates (honey).

The following are some of the opportunities to observe the holiday:

Family fun — The Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody, celebrates the holiday of the trees with children and their families from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. The festivities include arts, crafts, music, Israeli fruits and a birthday cake. It’s free and open to all. Visit www.atlantajcc.org/pldb-live/tu-b-shvat-celebration-34785, or call Rabbi Brian Glusman at 678-812-4161.
Retreat — The Retreat Center at Ramah Darom in Clayton is holding its first Farm 2 Table Tu B’Shevat celebration from Friday through Sunday, Feb. 10 to 12. The weekend features locally sourced, kosher meals prepared under the guidance of guest chef Jenny Levison of Souper Jenny, plus lessons about food ethics and conservation, hikes, meditation, and work in the new orchard. A Sunday-only option from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. includes lunch and the Farm 2 Table Green Festival, as well as projects for all ages. Sunday only is $36 for ages 18 and older, $18 for ages 4 to 17, and free for younger children. Rates for the whole weekend start at $300 for ages 31 and older, $150 for 18 to 30, and $100 for 4 to 17. Get information, including a registration link, at ramahdarom.org/programs/farm-2-table-tu-bshevat or ekaiman@ramahdarom.org.
Dinner — The monthly Shabbat in the Highlands dinner at Anshi, 1324 N. Highland Ave. in Virginia-Highland, starts with candle lighting at 5:59 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10. Dinner is $18; www.anshisfard.com or 404-969-6763.
Family service — Temple Kol Emeth’s family service, aimed at children 7 and younger, focuses on Tu B’Shevat at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at 1415 Old Canton Road in East Cobb. Visit www.kolemeth.net.
Seder — Temple Kol Emeth also holds Tu b’Shabbat at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10. The Tu B’Shevat seder is woven into the Shabbat service with fruit, nuts, wine, music, poetry and art. Visit www.kolemeth.net.
Mysticism and lunch — As part of its Soul & Spirit Shabbaton with Rabbi Tzvi Freeman and his wife, Nomi, Chabad Intown at 928 Ponce de Leon Ave. in Midtown holds a Tu B’Shevat meal at noon with a discussion of “Branches & Roots: Mystical Insights.” It’s free; visit intownjewishacademy.org/product/shabbaton.
Volunteering — JNFuture, for people in their 20s and 30s, holds Tu Beer’Shvat — a morning of service and an afternoon of socializing — on Sunday, Feb. 12. The event starts with bagels and coffee at 9:30 a.m. at the main entrance of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta, followed by trail preservation work in the Fernbank Forest from 10 to noon. The group then gathers at the Porter Beer Bar Beer Cellar at 1156 Euclid Ave. There’s no cost to attend; RSVP by Friday, Feb. 10, to rsvpatl@jnf.org. Contact Arielle Levy at alevy@jnf.org or 512-410-1483, ext. 946, for more information.
Planting — Trees Atlanta takes its annual Tu B’Shevat tree planting to the grounds of the Carter Center, 453 Freedom Parkway in Atlanta, from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. It’s free. Visit treesatlanta.org/event/tu-bshvat-3 for more information, and email susan@treesatlanta.org to register.
Spa night — Chabad of North Fulton at 10180 Jones Bridge Road in Johns Creek hosts a Jewish Women’s Circle event with spa services, smoothies, a coffee bar and guest speaker Miriam Lipsker at 5 p.m. The cost is $20. RSVP at www.chabadnf.org/spa. For more information, call 770-410-9000, or email admin@chabadnf.org.

Many Ways to Celebrate the Trees’ New Year

7 ways to celebrate Tu B’Shevat in Atlanta, which falls on Feb. 11.

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