Intown Jewish Preschool: How is a tree like me? by KDH

There has been a lot of talk about trees as we get ready to celebrate Tu B'Shvat, the new year of the trees, tomorrow. In the time of the Holy Temple/Beit Hamikdash, mitzvot regarding the tithing of fruits were dependent on if a tree had blossomed by Tu B'Shvat.

Tu B'Shvat is the time that the almond trees begin to blossom in Israel and the sap in the trees begin to rise. Tu B'Shvat reminds us that even in the dead of winter, spring is just around the corner. When things are difficult, we look forward to better times. We eat the Shivat Haminim, the seven species that Israel is blessed with - pomegranates, grapes, olives, wheat, barley, figs and dates and thank Hashem for the land of Israel.

KDH discussed what we get from trees, how to celebrate with Figgy - our fig tree that is outside our classroom, and how are we like trees. As adults, we often think of the trees' roots as our parents and grandparents, the branches and seeds as our offspring, the fruits as our good deeds. We asked the children their thoughts.

They told us:

We need water and so do trees.

We need sunshine as do the trees.

We eat and they eat.

The branches are like our arms.

The roots are like our feet.

The trunk is like our body.

I reflected on their answers and thought it might be interesting to see how they would turn their thoughts into illustrations, drawing tree people.

Annika and Ezra drew rainbow trees. Shaya's trees has many arms to do lots of mitzvot, and the sun is his kipah. Sammy's tree has lots of leaves like she has lots of hair. Henia's tree person is afraid the wind will knock it down. Pearl's tree person is a Honey Crisp apple tree!