In the United States, much more is left to our imagination. One of the best ways to make the holiday feel as real as possible is to hold a Tu B'Shevat seder, a ceremony celebrating the fruits of Israel, adapted from the Passover seder. Like the symbols on the Passover table, the fruits and grains of Tu B'Shevat are ripe with values. Here are some suggestions for a simple seder, based on the seven species of the land of Israel mentioned in the Bible. Each food is associated with a value, a text that reflects that value, and one or two kinds of action based on the value.
Wheat represents a staple of life.
It is basic to breads, crackers and many other nourishing foods. Many of us take the food on our table for granted, while others who are less fortunate are not even guaranteed simple survival. Barley is also a staple food, but its worth is often unrecognized or undervalued. The omer offered between Passover and Shavuot was a measure of barley, according to rabbinic tradition. While we remember the omer to this day by counting 49 days between Passover and Shavuot, we've forgotten the barley.