Seeing the forest for the trees - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Mon., January 21, 2008 Shvat 14, 5768

Israel Time: 02:32 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Rosner's Domain

Diplomacy

Defense

Jewish World

Opinion

National

Print Edition

Advertising

Books

Arts & Leisure

Business

Real Estate

Easy Start

Travel

Week's End

Anglo File

Seeing the forest for the trees

By Irit Rosenblum

Tags: Israel, Tu Bishvat

b The Community Centers Organization will hold hundreds of communal Tu Bishvat ceremonies throughout the country. These fruit and wine ceremonies are modeled after the Passover seder. A special festive "Hagaddah" has also been published, including passages from Jewish sources and explanations about the holiday customs. Details can be found at www.matnasim.org.il.

b This year is a sabbatical year when, according to the Torah, land in Israel must lie fallow. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has prepared a variety of activities including virtual tree plantings, forest games, Tu B'Shvat seders and visits to nurseries. Details and registration at Kav Leya'ar. Tel: 1-800-350-550.

The North

	Advertisement

b A northern forest hiking route will be opened in the Manara Cliff on Thursday at 10 A.M. The route is circular and about 400 meters long; it is also suitable for children. It will be open on weekdays from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. and on weekends from 9.30 A.M to 4 P.M. Entrance fee (including the use of the cable car) is NIS 49 on weekdays and NIS 59 on weekends; children under the age of 3 do not pay. Tel: 04-6905830. Web site: www.cliff.co.il.

b A week of tasting of Tu Bishvat delicacies will be held in the northern valley region. In the Jezreel Valley and its surroundings, restaurants will offer special gourmet meals and dishes inspired by Tu Bishvat at reduced prices. The tastings will take place all week, until Saturday. For more details, call (04) 652-0100 or visit www.emek.tour.org.

b Also in the Jezreel Valley, guided tours will be available on Friday and Saturday. Among others, there will be tours with stories about the valley's past and a tour that touches on some of the books by writer Meir Shalev. Tours cost NIS 35 and registration is by phone. Tel: (052) 334-7194.

b A special tour will be held over the weekend at Moshav Shadmot Devora with an emphasis on saplings. The moshav will also provide a workshop on making chocolate, honey with dried fruits and pancakes. The tours leave every hour on the hour between 9 A.M. and 3 P.M. For more details, call (04) 676-9598. Moshav Alon Hagalil is offering a bike trip on Saturday at 7:30 A.M. to see the Galilee blossoms. Call (04) 986-9888 or visit www.4x4bike.co.il.

b At Gan Garoo, the Australian Park at Nir David, Tu Bishvat will be marked by activities on Saturday for the entire family, starting at 9 A.M. and ending at 5 P.M. Among other events, there will be a hunt for an almond tree in a maze and a creative workshop on Eucalyptus trees. Entrance fee is NIS 35 per person. For more information, visit www.nirtours.co.il.

The Center

b A session of field cooking will take place on Saturday at the Monkey Park in the Ben Shemen forest. People will be able to pin their wishes on a "wishing tree". Entrance is NIS 48. For more details, call (08) 928-5888.

b A non-competitive Tu Bishvat orienteering exercise will take place on Saturday at Givat Ada from 9 A.M. until noon. The exercise will be held in the Alonim forest and is suitable for young children as well. An orienteering map can be purchased at Alonit at the Givat Ada junction for NIS 20. The orienteering itself is free. Professional guides will provide guidance on the spot. For more details, visit www.nivut.org.il or call (052) 370-7083.

b The Mini Israel park will hold special Tu Bishvat activities on Saturday, including a tour of the 51 varieties of (Bonsai) Mediterranean plants in the large botanical garden. It will also be possible to participate in Bonsai workshops. Activities for children and the entire family start as early as 10 A.M. and include a tour of the Mini Israel park, a children's play and creative workshops. For more details, call (08) 913-0010.

b "Flying between the pools," an exhibition of pictures of birds by photographer Eyal Bartov, and a guided nature walking tour between the pools at Ma'ayan Zvi, will take place on Friday and Saturday between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. The entrance fee of NIS 37 includes participation in the walking tour and the photography exhibition as well as other activities at the site. For more details, call (04) 639-1603 or visit www.fishing.park.co.il.

b A Tu Bishvat event with music, singing and study will take place tonight at 9 P.M. Dalik Wolinitz, Rubik Rosental, Agi Mishol, Einat Ramon and Prof. Avigdor Sha'anan will take part in the festive event at Beit Avi Hai's cafeteria in Jerusalem on 44 King George St. Entrance is free. Fore more details, visit www.bac.org.il.

b The Festival of Almond Trees will take place at Kibbutz Tzuba and will include guided tours of the blooming almond trees and music and nature workshops. The tours will take place on Friday and Saturday between 11 A.M. and 3 P.M. Entrance is free. For reservations and information, call (02) 534-7000. In addition, a Tu Bishvat cake-baking competition will take place in the Tzuba playground. Brunch with an almond flavor will be available at the Tzuba hotel between 10 A.M.and 2 P.M.; the meal is NIS 80 per person and reservations are taken at (02) 534-7090. There will also be a jeep tour of the almond blossoms on Saturday (NIS 50 per person). For more details, call (02) 534-7000.

b Special Tu Bishvat tours will be held at Neot Kedumim on Friday at 10 A.M. Guides will answer the questions: How has the festival changed since the time of the Temple? And how did the tradition of eating dried fruits on this holiday develop? The tours include tastings. Entrance is NIS 40 per person. Reservations at (08) 977-0787.

b The central event in Jerusalem, Shuk Bishvat, will take place tomorrow at Mahane Yehuda market. There will be clowns, magicians, dancers, ethnic dance troupes, musicians and singers. At 12:30 P.M., a Tu Bishvat seder will take place at the entrance to the Iraqi market. Entrance is free. Other events will take place at the Botanical Gardens, the Jerusalem Theater and the bird research center. Tomorrow at 7 P.M. at Hatzer Sergei, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel will hold an evening devoted to local food and its influence on the area. Entrance is NIS 15. Call (02) 531-4600 or visit http://tour.jerusalem.muni.il for more details.

The South

b Tu Bishvat in the Arava - a farmers market, an agricultural exhibition, tours and lectures will take place at the Yair station at Hatzeva on Wednesday and Thursday. A variety of fruit and vegetables grown in the Arava will be on display as well as new spices, flowers and fish. The farmers market will include art, food, jewelry, ceramics and other products of the Arava. There will be free guided tours twice a day in the hothouses, at the water reservoirs and at lookouts over the Arava. Reservations are required. For more details, call (052) 366-5907 or visit welcome.htm/http://www.arava.co.il/haklaut.

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Vision of cooperation
	Saudi prince says if Israel leaves Arab land, it could join the Arab world.


	At odds with PM
	Bolton says the final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce talks.

Today Online


	Barak: Pay no heed to Nasrallah, that's what gives him strength
	Responses: 246


	Gaza power plant shuts down due to fuel shortage
	Responses: 183


	State to review 2007 IDF assassinations in Gaza, West Bank
	Responses: 82


	Shmuel Rosner: Why do Nevada's Jews support Clinton?
	Responses: 67


	Catrin Ormestad: Qassam attacks are destroying life in Gaza
	Responses: 61


	Bolton: Final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce
	Responses: 34

More Headlines
00:41 Gaza power plant shuts down due to fuel blockade


01:58 Bolton: Final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce talks


01:41 Poll: Only 16% of Israleis back Diaspora input on fate of J'lem


22:07 Peres: Public will rule on any deal reached with Palestinians


22:36 Why Republican candidate Mike Huckabee worries Jewish voters


16:21 Ministers call for assassination of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah


18:03 Saudi prince: If Israel quits Arab land, it could join Arab world


18:26 Germany warns Jewish community of terror threat from Lebanon


02:10 Teen detainees refuse to leave home condemned as unfit by gov't