Memories of the New Year of the Trees

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Tu B’Shevat, which falls on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, is a favorite holiday of mine. It is one of the four new years in the annual Jewish cycle, the New Year of the Trees. According to some online references, it is a “minor” Jewish holiday with religious and agricultural significance. It is also known as the Jewish Arbor Day, since planting trees is a common activity on the one-day holiday.

For over 100 years, Tu B’Shevat has been associated with planting trees in Eretz Israel, mainly by the Jewish National Fund. But, the holiday had – and has – other significance. Though celebrations in Israel still include tree planting, they also incorporate programs designed to raise awareness of ecology and ecological issues. In our own community religious schools, ecological issues have also become part of the holiday curricula.

Back when my daughters and their peers went to religious schools, in addition to their weekly donation to Keren Am, they were encouraged to bring an extra dime on Sundays. That 10 cents bought a paper leaf that they could paste on a sheet of paper showing a tree. Eventually, all those dimes would purchase trees that would be planted in Israel in the name of their school.  They thus had a share in the greening of Israel.

In my childhood, we called the New Year of the Trees Chamisha Asar B’Shvat, a more formal – or old-fashioned – name for the holiday. The celebrations were cultural and social rather than religious. We did not get a day’s respite from school or work to go to shul. Friends came together to schmooze and socialize. Organizations, from socialist to secular to Zionist to religious, sponsored evening “get-togethers.”

The programs varied, depending on the sponsoring group and their ideals, but the menu – nosherei – did not. Whether at a home or in a hall, a platter of dried fruits and nuts (always including almonds) graced the centers of the tables, along with some Kosher wine or a soft drink or glass of tea. The fruit and nuts, though no doubt grown in California, embodied something of a cultural memory of Eretz Israel, recapturing a moment of our shared history – or, perhaps a dream of the future to celebrate together.

One additional fruit – this one from Eretz Israel – had a place at the table. We knew it as bokser, a long brown pod, hard as a rock.  No Tu B’Shevat celebration would be complete without it.  There was always someone present who was foolhardy enough to risk a huge dental bill by trying to bite off a piece of the pod.  For his trouble, if successful, he (never a she) found a mealy textured, sweetish tasting center with a pungent odor. 

Later, I would learn bokser was dried carob pod. I prefer the Yiddish word bokser. Dried carob pod sounds too mundane.

Many years later, when Warren and I were spending four or five months a year in Florida, we hosted Chamisha Asar B’Shvat seders at our home. Sadly, no bokser could be found to grace our table. We contented ourselves, after lunch, with noshing on dried fruit and nuts (especially almonds), singing Hebrew songs (usually off key) and engaging in great conversations.

One final, wonderful memory of Tu B’Shevat, from some 40 years ago.

During the holiday, the almond trees in Israel are in bloom, an event hailed in song by generations of schoolchildren all over the country. It is a never-to-be-forgotten vision of sheer beauty: A mantle of pink-white blossoms decorates the branches of each tree.

As I was leaving Jerusalem for the airport, I spotted through the side window of the cab a gorgeous pink cloud just beyond the highway. It was a grove of blossoming almond trees. The driver did not understand my excitement.  “Nu – come again next year. They will blossom for you again.”

Although I had visited Israel many times, this was the first and only trip that occurred at that season.  But every Chamisha Asar B’Shvat,  I see those splendid blossoming almond trees with my heart.

GERALDINE S. FOSTER is a past president of the R.I. Jewish Historical Association. To comment about this or any RIJHA article, contact the RIJHA office at info@rijha.org or 401-331-1360. 

RIJHA, Tu B'Shevat, trees