New Year for Trees Celebrated in Brooklyn Heights
On Thursday, the 15th of Shvat, Congregation Bnai Avraham of Brooklyn Heights’ Sisterhood hosted a Women’s Tu B’shvat Paint Night – ‘a night colored by blessings and beauty.’
They had a guest artist, Estee Klein, who guided everyone on how to paint a Tu B’shvat-inspired painting of pomegranates, complete with leaves and a background. They used acrylics on canvas, and every woman that participated was able to walk away with their very own personalized Tu B’shvat-inspired painting.
On each table were copies of Tu B’shvat literature that expressed “Man is a tree in the field,” with an explanation of the Holiday’s symbolism. Each woman read a small portion, and they all shared in reciting the blessing of Shehechiyanu on a new fruit in unison.
In their reading of the literature, they were reminded that each parent is a gardener: “May we continue to tend to our own gardens and be stewards of collaboration and role models for our children, as every child is a seed. Additionally, may we all be a tree out in ‘Hashem’s field’, planting seeds of goodness, blessing, and success through good actions, mitzvahs (good deeds), and through our Jewish faith and values, culminating in elevating our Jewish souls.”
