This February, Jews around the world celebrate Tu B’Shevat by bringing the beauty of nature into the curriculum of synagogues, schools and college campuses nationwide. What better way to celebrate than with the original “tree people” from Jewish National Fund-USA, who have planted more than 260 million trees in Israel over the last 120 years?
“Jewish National Fund-USA’s programming helps our children develop a deep, personal connection to Israel and the environment,” says Ilissa Nelsen, director of youth and education at Beth Shalom Congregation in Columbia, Md. “Through hands-on activities and engaging lessons, they learn about the importance of trees, nature and sustainability in Jewish tradition and Israeli history.”
This year, the chance to make the “birthday of the trees” personal and relevant is stronger than ever. Devastating rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon on northern Israel have made reforestation an urgent need. For children, in particular, the act of directly making a difference can leave a lasting impression.
“How often does a child have the chance to show that they made a concrete improvement to a place they care about deeply?” poses Beth Cohen, head of school of Friedel Jewish Academy in Omaha, Neb., a participant in the program. “I remember how excited I was to plant just one tree in a JNF forest on my first trip to Israel in 1993,” she recalled. “Imagine our students’ excitement when we raised enough money to plant 64 trees last year in the Be’eri Forest!”
The program, which includes a tree-planting competition, offers a chance to win local prizes. Anyone who plants a tree before Feb. 13 will also be entered to win a free round-trip ticket to Israel on El Al (up to $1,800) and a spot on a Jewish National Fund-USA volunteer mission.

As Marnie Nadolne, Jewish National Fund-USA’s director of community engagement, Israel advocacy and education, says: “Tu B’Shevat is an opportunity to show students the importance of participating in Israel’s future. It highlights Zionism’s core values and creates a lasting bond between the next generation of Jewish leaders and the land of Israel.”
For Ayala Zeev, director at the Lehrman Community Day School in Miami Beach, Fla., Tu B’Shevat Across America is her students’ chance to fulfill a mitzvah from afar. “We strongly feel that since our students cannot all fulfill the mitzvah of personally planting trees in Eretz Israel, they can donate money, and make it possible to plant trees and strengthen their connection to the Jewish homeland,” she says.
The school is passionate about the program and has been an active participant for eight years, winning the tree-planting competition six years in a row.

For Nelsen, it’s also an important part of sharing Judaism’s deeper values. “I hope that children will learn that Tu B’Shevat is more than just a celebration of trees; it’s a reminder of our responsibility to care for the environment and the land of Israel,” she states. “I want them to understand the importance of sustainability, the deep connection between Judaism and nature, and how small actions, like planting a tree, can make a lasting impact.”
As with all in the Jewish community, Nelsen’s thoughts turn back to the rampant destruction by Hamas terrorists who infiltrated southern Israel and attacked Jewish communities on Oct. 7, 2023, and draw from Judaism’s eternal hope for a better future.
Nelsen says as Jewish National Fund-USA works to restore forests in Israel that were destroyed that day, “I hope they see how acts of renewal bring hope and healing. Most importantly, I want them to feel pride in their Jewish identity and a lifelong connection to Israel and the world around them.”
“I’m excited,” she adds, “to see how celebrating this holiday can strengthen their connection to Jewish values, Israel and the environment while fostering a sense of hope and resilience for the future.”
To plant a tree in Israel, visit: jnf.org/trees.