In Taraz already smells as spring: shines more brightly sun, birds sing, it seems, from under a green grass will appear first snowdrops. And right now, when all world as if wakes up from long winter hibernation, at the Jews begins New year of trees.

The first question, which we have set to the guys, when had collected them on Tu-bi-Shvat, was a riddle: " What is it: in the autumn feeds, in the winter warms, in the spring amuses, and in summer cools?" And certainly, they quickly guessed, that it is a tree. We spoke with them much that it is impossible to overestimate importance of trees for the man. What it is possible with to replace oranges and apples, dates and peaches? Told, how mighty eucalypts drained not one malarial bog, and the crones of trees give a beneficial shadow and clear our air.

We with the guys decided to plant "alive tree" in our Hesed. To this purpose has served brought from Israel cactus. We read small lecture for children on our window plants, told about their useful properties. And more shared with them a small secret: it is possible to plant pit of a date, and it will grow just as in Israel, date palm and also it is possible to plant lemons, and they will bear fruits even at us on a window sill.

The guys began to plant brought by them flowera: Arina Kou planted medical aloe, Viktor Ni - "alive" tree, and Valeria Starkova - date aplm. Children also learned and ancient legend, how the trees had asked the Most High, that it and them, as well as to the people, would establish a holiday of New Year. Also that after the Most High had executed their request, we celebrate the holiday Tu-bi-Shvat on 15th Shvat. The lecture of Ida Bukina was devoted to the same theme. And Hayunya Griberg in ancient language Yiddish told about seven kinds of plants and fruits, which are traditional this day.

Then guys painted still life with fruits of plants. On white sheets colorful figures have appeared: pomegranates and grapes, pears and fruits of fig tree. Then the rhythmic gymnastics began, where boys and girls should in exercise on imagination, represent trees, it was necessary only to guess, what. Lowered the branches date palm - this beautiful tree decided to represent Vladislav Starkov. Daniil Slesarevsky showed slim cypress. And Daniil Smerichinskiy - strong oak.

With dance of waking up Spring pleased everybody Maria Koroleva and group "Tamir". And psychologist Olga Griberg conducted the test " Whether you are able to listen ", and it was very important, you see the girls and boys frequently should listen, but each of them remembers differently.

Summarized the day Quiz "What you know about a holiday Tu-bi-Shvat?" The best connoisseurs of the Jewish traditions appeared Jaroslava Gvozdevskaya and Maxim Smerichinskiy.

And then we all together have sat down a celebratory table, which was decorated with dishes with fruit: beautifully, in the form of patterns, the slices of mandarin were laid out by the guys of younger group, the apples were cut out in the form of lotuses, and others sweets decorated the table.

How it is perfect, that we have such unusual holiday - New year of trees!

Helena Dmitriyeva, Alla Koroleva