Tu BiShvat “Garden of Poetry”
Just as trees begin a new cycle of growth on Tu BiShvat, volunteers and elderly participants began a new creative chapter.
Tu BiShvat, also known as the New Year of the Trees, can be called one of the most poetic holidays. It highlights the importance of preserving traditions and performing good deeds that help shape a person’s character and growth. On this special day, an important cultural event took place — the literary evening “Garden of Poetry”, which included the presentation of the literary collection “Leafing Through the Jewish Soul.”
Creating this unique literary collection required five months of dedicated work, dozens of meetings, and hundreds of edits before it could be presented to poetry lovers. The anthology includes more than 20 poems by authors Yakov Kerner, Evgenia Brik, Efimia Punga, Elizaveta Rassokhina, and Nelly Tishko. These are deeply personal stories about first love and quiet family happiness, about school friends and mentors who left an unforgettable mark on life. In these poems, every reader can undoubtedly recognize a part of themselves.
The doors of the literary gathering were opened by the cozy I. Manger Library. The event turned out to be intimate and warm, with the central theme focused on the continuity of generations. At the end of the evening, guests enjoyed a musical performance: piano pieces performed by Mirra Apostol and violin parts by Igor Bochkarev and Alexander Bochkarev. This musical surprise added special depth and emotion to the evening.
For us at RVC, this evening became a moment of transformation, marking the beginning of a new creative stage — just as trees enter a new cycle of growth on Tu BiShvat. By turning the pages of the Jewish soul, we began a long and beautiful journey surrounded by friends and like-minded people.
We thank all volunteers, Hesed clients, and partners whose energy helped bring this collection to life. Special thanks go to the team of the I. Manger Library for their warmth and hospitality.
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