Clermont Congregation Sinai celebrates Tu B'shvat

The Congregation Sinai Sisterhood will host their annual Tu B’shvat holiday celebration service starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, Jan. 18. Congregation Sinai will host a special Rebbe’s Table service welcoming Shabbat with a special focus on Tu B’shvat. This open participatory service will be filled with music, special foods and a celebration. Everyone is welcome.

Tu B’shvat is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat each year; Tu B’shvat is also called “Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot,” literally meaning “New Year of the Trees.” In contemporary Israel, this holiday is celebrated as an ecological awareness day and trees are planted in celebration. Tu B’shvat officially begins at sundown on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. Tu B’shvat is one of four “New Year’s” mentioned in the Jewish Mishnah.

The 15th of Shevat was marked as the new year for calculating the age of trees for tithing. In ancient days, there was a custom of planting a cedar tree for a baby boy and a cypress tree for a baby girl. As the children grew, they tended the trees, so the trees would grow along with the children. When they married, they often used the tree wood for the poles in their wedding chuppah. This carried the tradition for loving trees from generation to generation in a concrete and loving way.

Congregation Sinai has been serving the Jewish Community of Central Florida since 2003. Most Sinai members live in the Clermont, Minneola and Groveland areas. Joe and Lynn Goldovitz provide unique spiritual leadership. This organization serves as a house of prayer, assembly and study in which the spectrum of Jewish expression is cultivated, protected and nurtured. With student education programs for children, adult education, Bible study groups, bar/bat mitzvah study programs and group tours to Israel; they strive to educate adults and children in Judaism’s rich heritage with contemporary significance, while sharing Jewish culture, rituals, traditions and values. They hold Shabbat Services every Friday Night with Torah readings as well as ongoing Bible & Bagel Study Workshops and Healing Services. They also hold many very creative service events for every major Jewish Holiday. Sinai has a very active Sisterhood and Men’s Club with numerous special events. They also host various women’s outreach programs inviting all area churches.

Congregation Sinai regularly supplies donations of food and supplies for the local schools as well as food and clothing for Puerto Rican and U.S. Virgin Islands Relief Fund. While the local Jewish Community attends prayer services and special events, they have opened their doors to the entire community, regardless of faith. They hold ongoing food drives for the needy and interfaith activities to promote understanding among our different cultures. They welcome all with open arms and hearts to their services. They provide a warm spiritual environment for observance of Jewish holidays, traditions and celebration of our members’ life cycle events. 

For more information about Sinai’s Friday night Tu B’shvat service and all other holiday services, membership and special events, call 352-243-5353. Email info@congregation-sinai.org. Visit http://www.congregation-sinai.org. Congregation Sinai is located at 1200 West Broad Street, Groveland, FL 34736. Affordable annual memberships are available.