Hello Lower School Families! 

I am writing to you as I watch our Lower School students delight in our recent snowstorm! There is really nothing like the big first snow. Enjoy a few pictures, and remember to keep sending snow gear as we will enjoy being outside in our winter weather as much as we can. 

It’s an unusual juxtaposition to think of our coldest and snowiest time of year in Chicago matching up with the spring-like weather in Israel. Almond trees are beginning to bloom there, as we all get ready for the celebration of Tu B'Shevat. We are so fortunate to have our ShinShinim here at BZ now to help us get into the spirit of this festive holiday. We have several traditions connected to Tu B'Shevat that are filling our hallways with ruach! 

• Environmentalism: This holiday brings a natural connection to our love of nature and our Jewish responsibility to take care of the earth. We visit ideas like recycling and reduction of food waste and also do some great learning about trees indigenous to Israel and the unique fruits they bear. In addition, students are reminded of this holiday’s connection to Theodor Herzl, and teaches them to honor his vision of the rebirth of the state of Israel and the beautification and planting that made that possible. 

• Planting: Lower School students have had the chance to work with the ShinShinim to plant parsley seeds. We are hoping for a speedy sprout that you can use for cooking at home. Enjoy some pictures below.

• Tasting: This is the time of year when it is customary to taste fruits that are native to the land of Israel, like dates and figs. You should see a bag of dried fruit making its way home this week!

• If you’d like to listen to some Tu B'Shevat inspired music, try one of these playlists!

  • PJ Library Spotify Playlist

  • Hebrew Tu B'Shevat Playlist

  • Shira Klein’s Earthworm Disco

• Cooking: Check out these traditional Tu B'Shevat recipes for a fun at-home activity.

Enjoy this snowy week, and Tu B'Shevat Sameach!

Karen Leavitt
Head of Lower School