On Tu B’shvat, the Jewish agricultural New Year, ancient farmers in the land of Israel marked the coming of spring.
To these ancient farmers, our frigid Canadian Tu B’shvat would be very confusing. They'd wonder aloud about our strange harvest, and ask how our grocery stores manage to stock fresh fruit in the dead of winter.
How do you think they'd react, hearing that our produce travels thousands of miles before arriving on those shelves? That we don't grow our own food, and that many live to be 100 without meeting a farmer? How would you explain, despite these modern miracles, that millions still go hungry?
Much has changed since the time of these ancient Jewish farmers. As diasporic Jews, many of our rituals are now related to time and memory rather than rootedness to place.
"Four Cups, Eight Questions" is a printable Tu B’shvat resource that uses a twist on the familiar Four Questions seder format to invite discussion and reflection on food, land, community, climate, and modern Judaism.
Click the image above to download your free 'Four Cups, Eight Questions' Tu B'shvat Seder resource!
5.8 MILLION CANADIANS WILL GO HUNGRY IN 2023.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
As the Jewish Response to Hunger, Mazon Canada is committed to feeding these people in the present, while also challenging the root causes of food insecurity into the future.
If Tu B'shvat inspires you to act, donate now to support hungry people through community gardens, food banks, hot meals at shelters, and more!
Click the image to send a Tu B'shvat ecard to someone you love:
Wishing you a meaningful holiday, however you celebrate!
- Mazon Canada Staff
(Maddy, Grant, Izzy and Rachel)