A weekend of programs marking the holiday will unite 40 communities and college campuses around the country.

(January 17, 2019 / JNS) The Israeli-American Council (IAC) will put down new roots across America for a first-of-its-kind, national “Israeli-style” event this weekend marking Tu B’Shevat, also known as the “New Year for Trees.”

This mega-celebration of the holiday will take place during a weekend-long program starting on Friday, Jan. 18, and ending on Sunday, Jan. 20.

The IAC’s “National Shishi Israeli Tu Bishvat” will unite 40 communities and college campuses around the country. In Israel, the holiday is widely celebrated with tree-planting ceremonies and fruit-themed seders.

Each community and campus will be provided with a booklet to serve as a guide for incorporating Israeli and Jewish elements of the holiday at the nationwide events, including tree-planting, community seders with fruit from Israel, a special holiday quiz, IAC Keshet activities for children and sing-a-longs with Tu B’Shevat-themed songs in Hebrew. Participating regions will serve Israeli food at their events.

IAC Shishi Israeli celebrates Jewish heritage and meaningful traditions at Shabbat dinners, as well as festivals for Shavuot, Sukkot, Purim, Passover and special programs throughout the year.

Shoham Nicolet, IAC co-founder and CEO, says the Tu B’Shevat event will unite “Israeli Americans and American Jews from coast to coast in a historic celebration that injects the spirit of Israel into this holiday across America. This will be an incredible opportunity to come together as one large Jewish family.”

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