Welcome to Israel Congregation
Your home away from home.
A place for friends and community.
You belong here!
Join us at Israel Congregation where every week there is something for everyone—young and old—to learn, to meet and to be part of a very special community in Vermont.
Tu B'Shvat
The name of this festival is actually its date: “Tu” is a pronunciation of the Hebrew letters for the number 15, and it falls in the Hebrew month of Shvat.
Traditionally, Tu B'Shvat was not a Jewish festival. Rather, it marked an important date for Jewish farmers in ancient times. The Torah states, “When you enter the land [of Israel] and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden for you, not to be eaten.” Only the fruit of older trees could be eaten. This law raised the question of how farmers were to mark the “birthday” of a tree. The rabbis therefore established the 15th of the month of Shvat as a general “birthday” for all trees, regardless of when they were actually planted.
In modern times, Tu B'shvat has become a symbol of both Zionist attachment to the land of Israel as well as an example of Jewish sensitivity
to the environment. Early Zionist settlers to Israel began planting new trees not only to restore the ecology of ancient Israel, but as a symbol of renewed growth of the Jewish people returning to their ancestral homeland.
Explore Talmud!
Deepen your understanding of Jewish thought, culture, and wisdom while strengthen your connections within our own community.
A new Chavurah organized by Amy Borman and Elizabeth Torak
Join us, the second Thursday of each month at 5:00 pm at Israel Congregation (or via zoom!)
All are welcome!
For additional info, click on the image to the left.
Salon With No Limits!
Salons have a long and fascinating history of ushering in paradigm-shifting ideas born of more broad perspectives, and as a result often ruffling the feathers of established socio-political power structures. Doesn’t the time feel ripe to create more where that came from? Let’s shake things up and offer a welcoming forum for community amidst these strange, divisive times.
A new Chavurah organized by Barbara Kaufman
Join us the third Tuesday of each month, 3:00 pm.
Everyone is welcome!
For additional info, click on the image to the right.
The Community Food Cupboard
Needs our Help!
Please consider what you might be able to donate from the wishlist to the right.
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If you prefer to make a donation of money, simply click here!
Items can be dropped off at the following locations:
- Shaw's
- Manchester Town Hall
- Manchester Community Library
- Christ our Savior Parish
- First Congregational Church
- Dorset Church
- Dorset Post Office
