Six juniper trees have found a new home outside Student HealthServices, thanks to the Jewish Student Union’s observance of a recentholiday.
On Thursday, Feb. 4, members of the JSU and Hillel, theinternational Jewish organization for college students and youngadults, planted the junipers to commemorate Tu B’Shvat, the Jewishholiday that celebrates the new year of trees.
The JSU chose to plant trees outside SHS this year when they foundout the university had been planning on giving a makeover to thefront of the building.
“As the earth keeps growing, it will need trees,” said JonahWeiss, JSU president. “So much has been taken away. Every little bitcounts.”
This is JSU’s second year celebrating Tu B’Shvat. Last January,they planted a carob tree in the Mediterranean Garden near HepnerHall.
Josh Epstein, program director for Hillel of San Diego, said thenew trees represent a bond between the university and its studentorganizations.
“This is a really nice way for the Jewish Community and the campuscommunity to do something together,” Epstein said. “It’s somethingthat Hillel and (JSU) strive for and we hope it happens more often.”
This is the second Tu B’Shvat ceremony this year for liberalstudies junior Jamie Allen, who celebrated the holiday by planting atree when she was in Israel last month.
“It was cool to be able to leave your mark,” Allen said. “I justrecently learned about the holiday and I want to keep up with thelearning.”
Allen, along with 40 other college students from San Diego, wassponsored by Hillel to visit Israel from Dec. 29-Jan. 10.
Carolann Pollan, SHS administrative assistant, said the trees arenot only nice to look at, but they might also help scared studentscoming into SHS.
“I think people find trees very calming, very restful,” Pollansaid.
For the groundskeepers, projects like these between the universityand the students can help keep the campus tidy.
“There are a lot of hours when we’re not here,” said WilfredFerral, groundskeeper. “Students can be the eyes and ears of themaintenance of the campus. When more and more students get involved,it helps keep the campus safe and clean.”
Tu B’Shvat celebrates the birthday of trees which falls on thefifteenth day of the Jewish month Shvat. This year the holiday fellfrom Jan. 31 – Feb. 1. Trees are traditionally planted during thistime as part of a hundred-year effort to re-forest the country.
“We celebrate the earth, the mythology and the beauty of God’screations,” Weiss said. “We plant trees because we want to give backto the Earth.”
