Taking part in the First Blessing of the Trees in Temecula’s Duck Pond Park on February 21 are from right fromTemple Beth Irv Michlen, Rabbi Dick Hershman, Bev Hoffman, Beverly Lerner, Kimberly Frischman, Teresa Ohler, Carmen and Bob Rieger along with several children and their mothers. Valley News/Tony Ault photo
Called the Tu b’Shavat
Members of Temple Beth Emet of Temecula met to take part in millennials' old Jewish tradition and blessing of a small oak tree in the northern portion of the Duck Pond Park in Temecula on Friday, Feb. 21.It was the first time the congregants of Temple Beth Emet met to memorialize what is called Tu b’Shavat (February 15) which was originally used by the rabbis of ancient Israel more than 5,000 years ago. It was a time for farmers to pay a tax for the bounty of almond trees at 10% and to leave the dropped nuts or fruit on the ground for the poor after they matured. Through the years, the custom grew to finally become a Rosh Hashana celebration for tree blessings and the first days of spring in Israel when the Almond trees bloom.[gallery td_select_gallery_s
