Tu B’Shevat marks the beginning of spring in Israel. Sustaining rains are at the peak of their power and the world responds, brimming with buds of fragrant life.

The holiday can be celebrated by planting trees, eating fruits, and having a Tu B’Shevat Seder, a ritual that began with the kabalistic masters of the 15th century.

Diane has a BA in Studio Art from Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts. She received her MA in Art and Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University in New York City. When she’s not painting, she often work as an artist in residence for schools, museums and hospitals.

Designer and metalsmith Aimee Golant has created an elegant Tree of Life necklace from 14K gold with ruby, amethyst and sapphire, to symbolize the cycle of life and as a metaphor for the Torah. Some of the branches and leaves are reminiscent of the Hebrew letter Shin (the 21st letter in the Hebrew alphabet), another symbol for the source of life. As a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and a sixth-generation metal artist, she creates Judaica to preserve, illuminate and share “the Universal within Judaism.” Also available in sterling silver and as a custom piece with specific chain length and using personal heirlooms or birthstones.

First Night-Dedicate this first night to family harmony, happiness (simcha) and gratitude that we have reached this season of celebrating another Hanukkah, appropriate as this is the only night we say the Shehechiyana , the prayer that recognizes our appreciation of reaching this point. So reach out and touch someone- pick up the phone and call your friends and relatives and wish them a Happy Hanukkah. And since according to Hasidic tradition we have until Hanukkah to make amends– if there is someone you wronged-make an effort to patch things up.

Second Night- Make this a night dedicated to Torah study and Jewish education.

Like the weather, people complain too often about their lack of basic Jewish knowledge but fail to do anything about it. So make a promise to yourself that this will be the year that you will dedicate yourself to making time on a weekly basis for Jewish learning- for example, joining a study group or, participating on line with Jewish learning sites. If you already do this-then make a commitment to support Jewish education for those who need financial help. A Jewish wit once quipped-what’s the greatest form of Jewish birth control? Day School tuition!

Third Night- Make a toast tonight to the State of Israel, a true miracle in our time. As the late Prime Minister David Ben Gurion once said, being a realist in Israel means believing in miracles. Whatever your political persuasion or viewpoint, make this a night of celebration. Call a friend or relative in Israel and wish them a Happy Hanukkah. Make a pledge to visit or revisit Israel and make your voice heard in support of the Jewish State. Fill your table with Israeli food and wine- and don’t forget along with the latkes some sufganiot- Israel donuts (you’ll start your diet another night!)

Fourth Night- Reach out to not yet affiliated friends or neighbors by sharing the joy of Judaism-invite someone for Shabbat dinner. And make your Sabbath table a special place by enhancing your meals with words of Torah. Go around and ask those with you to share something meaningful that happened during the week. If you are not yet involved in synagogue life- make a pledge to dip your toe in the sea of Jewish involvement-Try to attend services once a week, join a synagogue committee, find a way to connect with other Members of the Tribe.

Fifth Night- This is the night to emphasize Tikkun Olam- what can you do to help those less fortunate-the poor, the hungry, victims of war? Make a pledge to volunteer at a soup kitchen, increase your donations to charity or practice some instant tzedakah and buy after Shabbat some extra gloves, mittens and knit hats to distribute to those in need.

Sixth Night- This is a night to dedicate to spending more quantity and quality time with family and friends -if your family is at home or nearby, during the week sit down for a family meal. Turn off the phone and TV. Reach out to those in your community who are alone and invite them in to light candles with you.

Seventh Night-The Talmud teaches that what leaves our mouth is as important as what enters. Make a promise to refrain from idle speech. Gossip is so harmful and its effects are wide reaching. A man once came to a rabbi to say he wanted to make amends for something derogatory he had said about a neighbor and wanted to know how he could make it up to the neighbor. The rabbi told him to take a feather pillow and go to the center of town, open it up and as the feathers floated away make sure to grab everyone and put them back into the pillow. The man protested to the rabbi that that would be impossible as the wind would invariably carry some away and he couldn’t grab all of them. The rabbi pointed out to him that gossip and slander function the same way-once they are out of the bag , so to speak, the effects are so far reaching that you can never fully repair the damage.

Eighth Night- This final night is a perfect opportunity to dedicate yourself to loving all Jews. Tradition teaches us that the Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed two thousand years ago because of boundless hate. So tonight on the last night of Hanukkah as we recall the rededication of the Temple , make it a night of boundless love for all Jews no matter what their affiliation. Find ways to reach across denominational divides and strengthen ones ties and love for all Jews. Remember what unites us is greater than what divides us. And most of all-Be Happy- it’s Hanukkah!

(Excerpted from Shaarei Simcha-Gates of Joy, by Dr. Adena K. Berkowitz and Rivka Haut)

Copyright 2011

Nambe transcends trends and generations. It enhance lives through designs that connect emotionally, quality that inspires, and a brand that shares in the lifestyle aspirations of its customer. Nambe’s world-class designers specify signature alloy, stainless steel, fine porcelain, and full-lead crystal, always with the intent to honor its core values and remain true to its philosophy.

Nambe possesses a certain mystique. Partly the very name and their connections to the landscape, culture and history of its origins. Nambe (pronounced na:m’bei) was named for a tiny village near Santa Fe in Northern New Mexico where the company was founded in 1951.

But there’s more to it, this mystique, which makes Nambe the ‘lifestyle’ brand valued by people who love simple, elegant designs and love to share them with others.

The most distinguishing characteristic of Nambe is that the company is devoted as passionately to form as it is to function. Many early Nambe designs (Tri-Corner and Butterfly bowls, for instance) still sell briskly. This dedication to design defines Nambe. Timeless art you can use every day.

ROBERT SASLOW is a Los Angeles-based calligrapher and designer who comes from a family of artists. He earned a degree in 2-dimensional art from California State University, Northridge (1986). He has extensive experience teaching art, including over 20 years at Los Angeles religious schools, and nine summers on the art staff at UAHC Camp Swig in Saratoga, California. He is an active member in the Society for Calligraphy, and his work has been published in the Letter Arts Review, a leading calligraphic journal.

When Emily Rosenfeld graduated with an English degree, she wasn’t interested in teaching or writing, but she was open to exploring other interests. She worked in jewelry production for two years before deciding that she wanted to earn a living by working with her hands. After moving to Oakland, California, and attending numerous jewelry-making classes, Rosenfeld began making her own work in 1991. Her  continued goal is to make expressive jewelry and home accessories.  She exhibits and sells her unique metal art internationally.

Emily has designed a collection of pewter mezuzahs that have a lot of style. Take a look at her jewelery.  We just love her tiny silver heart necklaces. These tiny sterling silver heart charms can be personalized with an initial (Hebrew or English Letters or both) on the front. Simple and meaningful, wear it in celebration of your children or beloved ones. Great gift for mothers, grandmothers, and bat mitzvah girls. Bat mitzvah girls also love the Tiny Dot Collection. These tiny sterling silver circles have an image cast into one side or  they can be personalized with a custom initial. Utterly simple and fun, they are meant to be combined in any way that makes them your own. The sterling silver Tiny Dots are also available as earings for just $44. a pair.

Take a look at Emily Rosenfeld’s  collection. We’re sure you’ll find something you love.

Those with an eye for the quirky will delight in the sculptures of artists Sue Parke and Don Gidley – her sense of whimsy, and Don’s eye for geometry and line merged in Acme Animal – menorahs.  In a studio filled with rivets, scroll saws, and sheets of aluminum, Don cuts and Sue paints. She uses bold combinations of color to give the pieces life using brushstrokes adapted from stage painting (The pair met while working on theater sets)

We see our work as urban folk art – or folk art with an urban sensibility.

-Don and Sue