Photo credit: James St. John, Flickr, C.C. 2.0
Maple tree in fall colors in Ohio, USA
By Julia Olson
Assistant Editor
Tu B’Shvat begins Wednesday, February 12 at sunset and there is no shortage of ways to celebrate this environmental holiday around Cincinnati.
On Saturday, February 8, PJ Library and the Mayerson JCC are hosting “From Sap to Syrup: A Tu BiShvat Hike and Play” at the Cincinnati Nature Center. The event will feature an interactive session during which participants will learn about the making of maple syrup. The syrup is collected through a process first utilized by indigenous American populations called maple sugaring. Attendees at the February 8 event will be invited to hike around the Nature Center and view the maple trees, check the collection buckets and watch an evaporator render sap into syrup. The event will run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Those interested will need to register on the Mayerson JCC website as well as the Nature Center website. Prices and further information is available on the JCC website.
Northern Hills Synagogue will host a Tu B’Shvat Celebration on Sunday, February 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Shomrei Olam, a Jewish environmental organization, will join with NHS to celebrate the holiday and raise environmental awareness. During the event, participants can enjoy a fruit tasting, learn about fossils and local geology, meet reptiles, plant flowers and create holiday art. Shomrei Olam will educate attendees about Cincinnati recycling, and PJ Library and Camp at the J will lead activities related to maple sugaring and syrup creation from local trees.
Registration information is available on the Northern Hills Synagogue website. There is no charge for attendance.
Northern Hills will also host a Tu B’Shvat Seder on Wednesday, February 12 beginning at 5:30. Registration can be found on the NHS website.
