Brooklyn Children’s Museum will host its annual celebration of Tu BiShvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, on Sunday, Feb. 1, in partnership with The Neighborhood: An Urban Center for Jewish Life. The daylong event invites families from across Brooklyn to explore the connections between nature, culture and environmental care through interactive programming designed for all ages and backgrounds.
Throughout the day, children and caregivers can take part in hands-on activities that highlight Jewish traditions and environmental stewardship. Families will have the opportunity to sample traditional Tu BiShvat fruits, enjoy pop-up musical performances and music classes, create art using cyanotype printing in the museum’s art studio and learn about Jewish herbalism traditions with educators from Adamah.
“Our Tu BiShvat celebration invites families to look closely, and rediscover the powerful role nature plays in everyday life,” said Atiba T. Edwards, president and chief executive officer of Brooklyn Children’s Museum. “Even in a dense urban environment like Brooklyn, trees connect us to care, sustainability and a healthy future. We have enjoyed shade from trees we didn't plant but are still here today. This day encourages children to engage with the natural world while exploring the cultural traditions that help shape how we care for our shared future.”
Museum leadership emphasized that the celebration encourages families to slow down and recognize the role nature plays in everyday life, even in a dense urban environment like Brooklyn. The program highlights how trees connect communities to sustainability, shared responsibility and future generations, while giving children a chance to engage with the natural world through cultural traditions.
Organizers from The Neighborhood noted that Tu BiShvat reflects a deep, long-standing relationship between Jewish culture and the natural world. By bringing the Birthday of the Trees to Brooklyn families, the partnership aims to create an experience grounded in tradition, creativity and care for the environment.
“The Jewish community has a deep and enduring relationship with the natural world, and we are thrilled to bring Tu Bishvat—the Birthday of the Trees—to families in Brooklyn through an experience rooted in tradition, creativity and care for our shared world,” said Rebecca Guber, founding director of The Neighborhood: An Urban Center for Jewish Life.
Program highlights include:
-
Taste the Fruits of Tu BiShvat: An interactive fruit tasting featuring the four traditional categories of fruits eaten during the holiday, with information about their symbolism and origins.
-
Tkiya Music Class: A participatory music experience with songs, stories and puppets that explore trees through Jewish music.
-
Wandering Tree Performers: A musical duo dressed as trees roaming the museum and sharing original songs throughout the day.
-
Wandering Balloon Performers: Balloon artists creating tree-inspired designs as they move through the museum.
-
Blooming Beyond Waste: Brooklyn Branches of Care: An interactive performance focused on reducing food waste, accompanied by tabling from the NYC Department of Sanitation and Big Reuse, including a compost bin giveaway.
-
Mindful Forest: A low-sensory mindfulness experience in the film auditorium, with forest scenes on screen and guided sessions offered periodically.
-
Cyanotype Printing Workshop: A hands-on art workshop in BCM’s ColorLab where families use sunlight and natural materials to create prints.
-
Herbalism Workshop with Adamah: A global look at Jewish herbalism traditions led by instructors from North America’s largest Jewish environmental organization.
-
Story Time with PJ Library: Interactive read-alouds centered on trees, planting and Tu BiShvat.
-
Hands-on Activities with Repair the World: Educational activities focused on trees and the holiday’s themes.
-
The LUNAR Collective Workshop: A program exploring Asian Jewish heritage through environmental awareness.
Celebrate Tu BiShvat runs from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Feb. 1. Museum admission includes access to all activities. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $14 for grandparents and free for children under one year old. Tickets can be purchased at www.brooklynkids.org/tu-bishvat.
