Tu Bishvat Kits Distributed
This year, special kits in Hebrew and Russian, containing various fruits, were distributed on the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, otherwise known as Tu Bishvat, which is the New Year for Trees. The kits, which included a message about the service of mankind and the text of the appropriate blessings recited on the fruit, were distributed to the elderly, needy, children and women. Everyone was very grateful to Chabad Lubavitch of Kishinev, which is run by Rabbi Zalman Abelsky, Chief Rabbi of Moldova.
A Club for Survivors of the Kishinev Ghetto
The club for the survivors of the Kishinev Ghetto held a Tu Bishvat celebration at which they listened to an explanation given by student Chabad emissaries of the significance of the day. The survivors told stories about the ghetto, its synagogue and its special Torah scroll. Afterwards, dried fruits were distributed, which bore the kosher stamp of Rabbi Zalman Abelsky, Chief Rabbi of Moldova. The survivors were thankful for the fruit, upon which they recited the appropriate blessings. The club’s elderly women members were given sewing for children’s classrooms, among other things.
Businesses Around the Country
At businesses around the country, including hairdressers, shoe repairers, airports and more, special festive fruit kits were distributed.
The kits were produced by the welfare department run by Rabbi Zushe Abelsky. The recipients also heard about the meaning of the day and how it affects our lives as Jews, as well as other Jewish practices such as putting on tefillin, phylacteries.
