Celebrate Shavuot by Pretending You're on a Kibbutz

Shalom Yeladim:

Getting ready for Shavuot? Learning about it in school? Then I'm sure you know that one of the names this holiday has is חג הביכורים -- holiday of the first fruits.

When the State of Israel came into being, Shavuot quickly became the favorite kibbutz holiday. Back then, kibbutzim -- collective agricultural communities -- were the source of Israel's luscious fruits and vegetables. Even though times have changed, Shavuot is still a special agricultural celebration on the kibbutz. Girls continue the tradition of wearing crowns made out of flowers (floral garlands). Here's an example. Look at it carefully and see if you can make one just like it.

Special decorations are created to remind everyone of farming life. And there's dancing...kibbutz style!

The celebration starts with a parade. What do I mean? Watch this. Every possible farming job on the kibbutz is represented. Am I giving you ideas on how make this year's Shavuot celebration a little bit different? Hope so.

I'll leave you with a YouTube clip of the Givatron -- my favorite kibbutz choir. They sing several songs, so get ready and have a חג שמח.

Fruits Photo Credit
Garland Photo Credit
Kibbutz dance photo credit

Win a Free Book: Take this Yom Ha'Atzmaut Quiz

Hey Girls & Boys:

This year I'm celebrating Israel Independence Day with a Yom Ha'Atzmaut quiz. The first one to send me all the correct answers will win a free, autographed copy of Zvuvi's Israel. 

Ready?

Good luck -- בהצלחה !

1. Who was the father of modern Zionism?

    a. Chaim Weizmann  b. Theodor Herzl  c. Edmond Rothschild

2. Which city in Israel is named after him?

     a. Kfar Weizmann  b. Tel Mond  c. Herzliya

3. In what year was Israel established?

     a. 1967   b. 1948   c. 1898

4. What is the name of Israel's capital city?

     a. Tel Aviv  b. Jerusalem  c. Modiin

5. Who was Israel's first Prime Minister?

     a. Moshe Sharett  b. Yitzhak Rabin   c. David Ben-Gurion

6. The Israeli flag is designed to resemble:

     a. King David's shield  b. the Tallit -- prayer shawl  c. Emblem of the Maccabees

7. What is the name of Israel's national anthem?

     a. Hatikva   b. Shir Ha'Maalot    c. Jerusalem of Gold

8. Who was Israel's only female Prime Minister?

     a. Henrietta Szold  b. Golda Meir  c. Rahel Ben-Zvi

9. Where did she grow up?

     a. Warsaw, Poland   b. Kibbutz Alpha   c. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

10. The first kibbutz in Israel was:

     a. Kibbutz Alpha   b. Kibbutz Degania Alef   c. Kibbutz Ma'ayan Baruch

11. The national bird of Israel is:

     a. Falcon   b. Sandpiper  c. Hoopoe

12. What is the national currency of Israel?

     a. Lira   b. Shekel   c. Agorah  d. Dollar

13. What was invented in Israel?

    a. cellphones  b. texting  c. USB flash drive  d. all three

14. What are the two official languages of Israel?

    a. Hebrew & English   b. Hebrew & Arabic   c. Hebrew & Russian  d. Israel has no "official" language

15. Israel has the lowest point on earth. Where is it?

    a. Gulf of Eilat   b. Ramon Crater   c. Dead Sea  d. Sea of Galilee

Whew...I think that's enough! Remember, the first class/school/person to send me the correct answers wins a free, autographed copy of Zvuvi's Israel. Don't forget to include your address.

חג שמח

    Photo Credit

I Have an Idea for Your Yom Hashoah Commemoration

שלום ילדים, הורים ומורים

It's me, Zvuvi.

I'm buzzing by because I just thought of a great program idea for your Yom Hashoa commemoration. It sorta hit me when I saw the picture of President Obama at Yad Vashem. There's an Eternal Flame shining behind him. Then today, I started thinking about the torch lighting ceremony that is held every Yom Hashoah at Yad Vashem. Six memorial torches are lit by six Holocaust survivors or their relatives, in honor of the six million Jews who were cruelly murdered during the Holocaust. Each one has a story, and I bet that each of you has a relative (close or distant) with a Holocaust story.

So here's my idea: between now and next Monday research everything about your relative with a Holocaust history. Write it up.  Better yet, print it out, frame it or put it on a stand -- you decide. Then, at your Yom Hashoa commemoration stand it up on a display table and light a Holocaust memorial candle.

If there's nothing special going on in your school, then do it at home. It's a sad but golden opportunity to connect with your past. We take it very seriously in Israel and I hope you will too.

Zvuvi











Photo credit