Tu B’Shvat

Austin Jewish Academy marked Tu B’Shvat with a meaningful afternoon of special programming that brought students together to celebrate nature, growth, and responsibility for the world around us. Designed to be hands-on and age-appropriate, the activities engaged students from kindergarten through fifth grade in a rotating series of experiences throughout campus, with middle school students serving as helpers.

Students participated in three Tu B’Shvat stations: planting seeds in the greenhouse, decorating pots to take home, and taking part in a mini Tu B’Shvat seder. Each grade level rotated through the activities, allowing students to experience the holiday through learning, creativity, and action.

During the mini seder, students learned about the traditional types of fruits and foods eaten on Tu B’Shvat and why they are meaningful. They practiced saying the appropriate blessings, sampled a variety of fruits, and discussed how these traditions connect to the holiday’s themes of gratitude, growth, and caring for the earth.

In the greenhouse, students planted seeds and talked about the importance of nurturing living things and protecting the environment. They learned how to find existing seeds in the “weeds” of our Outdoor Academy space, and how those naturally spread in the wild. On the library balcony, they decorated their pots, combining creativity with anticipation for watching their plants grow at home.

This special programming would not have been possible without the dedication of our community members. A huge thank you to Danielle Kaplan for leading the seed-planting activities, Carla Fenves for guiding the mini seder, Morah Susan for organizing the pot-decorating station, and to Ms. K for overseeing it all.

The Tu B’Shvat celebration was a wonderful example of experiential learning at AJA – rooted in Jewish values, hands-on engagement, and a shared sense of community.