Hebrew Cemetery Observes Mitvah of Tree Planting on Tu B'Shevat

Charlotte Jewish News January 2022

By Brian Yesowitch

In 1942, Hannah Senesh, a paratrooper who served in the British army, wrote a poem called “A Walk to Caesarea.” The poem has the lines “I pray these things never end: the sand and the sea, the rush of the waters, the crash of the heavens, the prayers of man.” Some of us may know this poem from the Hebrew song “Eli Eli.” The poem speaks of permanence — things that are absolute. One thing we can probably all agree on is that the last two years have been very fl uid. Things change by the month and, in some instances, weekly or daily. Many of us may yearn for the days there were absolute truths, like in the ’40 s during Hannah Senesh’s time.

One constant that embodies permanence is the natural world around us, especially our trees. Charlotte is well suited for many beautiful trees like Crepe Myrtle, Magnolia; our neighbors in South Carolina grow Palmetto trees, and who can forget the aromatic Bradford Pear trees that surround us with their white beauty each spring? You have an opportunity to contribute to our beautiful community and to add some permanence and normality to your lives by joining us on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. for our annual Tu B'Shevat tree planting. The event will take place rain or shine, and you can sign up (if you haven’t already) by visiting the Hebrew Cemetery Association website at hebrewcemetery.org or our Facebook page @HebrewCemetery or by contacting me at byshalomch@gmail.com.

We have held many tree plantings at the cemetery since 2015. Our partners at TreesCharlotte love coming to the Hebrew Cemetery because with all the development in the area, including Camp North End across the street and the Michael Jordan Health Clinic at the end of Statesville Ave., there are few opportunities to plant trees and help improve the air quality in West Charlotte. Our Hebrew Cemetery volunteers who observe the mitzvah of planting trees of Tu B’Shevat are providing a greater community service to the West Charlotte community as well. T

his fall, the Hebrew Cemetery was awash in color. The Hawthornes planted along the south gate near the old section made a glowing line of bright yellow. The maples adjacent to our Orthodox burial area and lining the community area were a brilliant red. Our Nuttall and Pin Oak trees that highlight the berm between the Blumenthal Memorial Garden, our Section Three Memorial Park, and our community section hold all of the traditional fall colors — browns, golden yellows, oranges, dark greens, and dark reds. Our Landscape and Grounds committee, led by Robert Valenstein, meets many times each year to plan and plant appropriate tree species and ensure our cemetery grounds are beautiful to visit all year long.

Another exciting component of our Tu B'Shevat tree planting on Jan. 16 is the return of the TreesCharlotte “Tree Store.” All participants, regardless of affi liation or Cemetery Association membership status, will be able to sign up and take home a young tree and bag of mulch to plant at their Charlotte home. My family has received six trees since the beginning of this annual tradition, which we have planted in two yards. TreesCharlotte limits Tree Store recipients to Charlotte city residents only. I look forward to seeing many of you at the cemetery in January!

The Hebrew Cemetery Association is Charlotte’s oldest Jewish agency. We are a Jewish Federation beneficiary agency and have served the Jewish community in Charlotte and the surrounding region for more than 150 years. For more information on joining the Hebrew Cemetery Association, pre-planning funerals, or general questions about Jewish burials in Charlotte, please contact our association director, Sandra Goldman, at director@hebrewcemetery.org or at (704) 944-6854.