On Saturday, Feb. 8th at 9:30am, in addition to our regular Shabbat and Torah Study, we will be hosting our special Tu B’shvat Seder – the Jewish environmental holiday. We will begin with our morning celebration of the universe, study Torah, and then have a celebratory environmental seder. All with great teachings and music led by Rabbi Cat Zavis and Dr. Ami Goodman.
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person.
To obtain the Zoom link to join us online or the address where we meet in person (centrally located in Emeryville, only a short walk from the MacArthur Bart Station)
Please register here.
Feel free to invite others as well by forwarding this email or link.
We will use the Beyt Tikkun Tu B’shvat mahzor and follow the Chasidic path, coupled with the wisdom of tikkun olam.
The seder will involve enjoying various fruits, helping us connect with the beauty and bounty of our planet. If you join us on Zoom, we encourage you to get some of the relevant fruit and grape juice or wine (some red and white) so you can participate fully in the experience. If you join us in person, we will provide the fruits and juice. The tradition is to move from less permeable fruit to more permeable. All you need is one fruit for each of the following stages:
- First, those with tough shells and soft edible inside (e.g., walnuts, coconuts, pomegranates, or melons).
- Second, fruit with a soft outside but hard inside (e.g., peaches, dates, apricots, olives, cherries, dates, plums, etc.).
- Third, fruit that is soft both on the outside and the inside (e.g., strawberries, figs, blueberries, pears, grapes, apples, etc.).
- In the 4th stage, we will visualize a higher level of connection to the earth and the cosmos (no fruit needed!)
You only need one fruit for each of these stages. If you don’t get them, then just imagine them when we get to each stage.
And at each stage we also drink some grape juice or wine – ideally you’ll have white grape juice or wine and red wine or grape juice. Come and enjoy!
9:30 am PST: Shabbat celebration of the universe
10:30 am PST: Torah study: Beshalach – God continues to harden Pharaoh’s heart and sends Pharaoh and his army after the Hebrews. Exodus 13:17 (sefaria.org)
11:30 to 12:30 pm PST – Tu B’Shvat Environmental Seder.
You are invited to all or any segment you want.
Hope to see you there!
Rabbi Cat Zavis & the Beyt Tikkun Team
Please register here.
Shabbat Services and Torah Study are held at Rabbi Cat’s home, address will be provided once you register. She has a large, sweet golden retriever/labrador mixed breed dog. Masks are optional. Please don’t come if you have any symptoms. Air filter provided. Windows can be opened if requested. There are 4 steps to enter the house. The house is one story. There are 4 steps out the backdoor to the backyard if we decide to go out there. There are couches, dining room chairs, and a floor for seating (along with pillows one can sit on on the floor). Please try to be scent-free.