On Wednesday night, January 29, 2025, as the new month of Shvat began, JLIC Technion’s monthly Rosh Chodesh Ladies Night took on extraordinary significance. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect – as we entered the month that celebrates the New Year for Trees, nearly 30 students gathered for an evening that beautifully wove together creativity, commemoration, and the cyclical renewal of nature.
Under the guidance of Tova and Rabbi Evan Levine, the gathering embraced the spirit of Tu B’Shvat, the holiday that marks the New Year for Trees. The evening centered around a meaningful activity where each participant decorated their own plant pot, infusing it with personal style and artistic flair. More than just a craft project, the act of preparing these vessels for new life carried deep symbolism – particularly given both the timing and the evening’s dedication.
The event held exceptional meaning as it was sponsored by Noa Segal in memory of her first cousin, Zechariah Haber z”l, who made the ultimate sacrifice defending Israel in Gaza. Zechariah, who was pursuing his PhD in agriculture at the time of his passing, embodied the very essence of nurturing growth and life. On this Rosh Chodesh Shvat, the choice to honor his memory through an event combining creativity with cultivation proved especially poignant.
As each student left cradling their newly potted plants, they carried with them not just a piece of artwork, but a living reminder of renewal and hope. Just as the sap begins to rise in the trees of Israel during Shvat, signaling new beginnings, these plants would grow to become lasting tributes to both the cycle of nature and the eternal impact of those we hold dear.
The evening demonstrated how JLIC Technion continues to create spaces where Jewish women can connect, create, and find meaning together, while honoring those who are no longer with us. In the spirit of both Rosh Chodesh and Tu B’Shvat – times of renewal in the Jewish calendar – these young women planted seeds of both physical and spiritual growth, ensuring that Zechariah’s legacy of nurturing life continues to flourish in new and beautiful ways.
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