Tu Bishvat

Wednesday January 24 2024, 6:00 pm to Thursday January 25 2024, 6:00 pm

The kabbalists, a group of Jewish mystics living in Israel in the 16th century, created a Seder for Tu Bishvat (New Year for trees).  They gathered in the evening around a beautiful table decorated with sweet-smelling flowers and lovely candles and long into the night they sang, talked and ate.

At SPS we reciprocate this tradition, albeit earlier in the evening and not going on too late!

During the evening, we follow our own produced Seder, where we drink four glasses of wine, each a different colour, to represent the four seasons.  We will also have three plates of various types of fruit, representing a body covering the soul, the heart is protected, and pure spiritual creation.

Another custom at SPS is the planting of trees, usually by the youngest and eldest children at Ruach (Religion School).  Some of these trees now give us the greenery to decorate our sukkah at Sukkot.

Yom Ha’zikaron & Yom Ha’atzmaut

Sunday May 12 2024, 6:00 pm to Monday May 13 2024, 6:00 pm

We commemorate Yom Ha’zikaron (Israel’s official Remembrance Day) and celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) with a service. Normally, as with all Jewish activities, food is served, this time Israeli style with falafel, humus, tahini, Israeli salad and pitta bread.  We usually have a talk, quiz, film show or other form of entertainment.