First Home Update – Tu Bishvat 2023

“How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (Numbers 13:20).

“Who built it, and who planted trees? All of us together!”

This week we celebrated the new year of the trees, Tu BiShvat by planting trees and flowers around the country. In 2023 it started on Sunday evening February 6^th, and ended on Monday evening. As always, the participants of the “First Home in the Homeland” program took an active part in the celebration and were fully involved in the process.

Planting trees and flowers in the new Homeland Israel | Photo: JAFI

Many of them knew nothing about the holiday before making aliyah. Their kibbutz coordinators, teachers in Hebrew classes, schools and kindergartens taught them how to celebrate and how to observe the traditions of the holiday.

Teaching how to celebrate and observe the traditions of the holiday of Tu Bishvat | Photo: JAFI

The families were also planting the trees and plants with kibbutz dwellers who know quite a lot about the environmental issues, to share their experience and knowledge with olim.

It was very symbolic for them to throw a good “seed” into the Holy soil (Holy Land) and lay the foundation for a good future here.

“This year, by the grace of G-d Darina will give the land of Israel a new life and give birth to a daughter”

We have already told you about the family from Belarus. They came here with their little son David via “First Home in the Homeland” program in 2021. Last Tu BiShvat they planted a tree in kibbutz Mashabei Sade as a symbol of their new life in Israel. This year, by the grace of G-d Darina will give the land of Israel a new life and give birth to a daughter, new “Sabra” (a person who was born in Israel).

Darina and Andrey (in the center), Tu BiShvat in Mashabei Sade | Photo: JAFI

Let’s pray for them and bless the family for their happy new life, wish them and their children health and a peaceful sky above their heads!

Please support the “First Home in the Homeland” Project. Any amount is welcome! Assisting a family in the “First Home” program costs € 230 euro / US $ 250 a month.

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