On Tu Bishvat we pay special attention to trees and the
fruits that they give us. Trees also provide shade and can be
a sign of an underground water supply. Additionally, we know
that the trunk provides wood with which to build and paper
for writing. The roots are its contact with its nourishment
and its source.
The Torah is compared to a tree. "It is a tree of life for
those who cling to her." The roots of a tree spread from the
trunk into many branches; each branch spreads into many stems
and each stem into many fruits. Each fruit has many seeds,
each one capable of producing an entire tree with roots,
branches, stems, leaves, fruits and more seeds, to produce
another tree, and so on, without end...
A tzaddik is compared to a tree. Like the stately
palm, he will blossom, and like the cedar of Lebanon will he
grow tall. Fruits refer to the tzaddik's deeds and
actions in this world. Even after he dies in this world, he
will grow and be elevated in olom haba (Maharsha,
Bova Basra).
A tree whose branches blossom forth tzaddikim is
indeed a perfect picture. Another lovely picture is a Family
Tree. A broad thick trunk, many branches reaching upwards to
the heavens, and strong supporting roots that go deep into
the earth around it. The family tree with genealogy and
history is a center piece for discussions on the positive
points of each member and other relevant and factual
information. Making a family tree with your children is a
parallel activity to displaying and decorating the fruits of
Tu Bishvat. Display it on your wall during and after your Tu
Bishvat seder.
The following information was generously given by a
professional genealogist who asked to remain anonymous.
All of our roots go back to Adam HaRishon. For practical
purposes, we will suggest here doing a family tree that
includes three generations: grandparents, children and
grandchildren. Of course, anyone who has more inclusive
family records or knowledge can include it. The roots are
patriarchial, displaying two sets of grandparents. The trunk
are their children, and the branches are the grandchildren.
Later branches are the children of the grandchildren. A
genealogy chart doesn't have to take the shape of a tree that
starts from down to up. It can go from left to right,
starting with your parents/ 4 grandparents/ 8 great-
grandparents/ 16 great- great-grandparents.
Family trees are categorized in three ways:
* Names and dates / * Photographs / * Medical and genetic
links
Jewish Surnames
In Europe, prior to one hundred years ago, kohanim
married either kohanim or leviim, adhering to
the custom to marry within one's tribe. Around the year 1820,
with the declaration of the Napoleanic law, Jews were
obligated to take last names. Before this time, people were
called after their father or grandfather (patronymics). Moshe
ben Avrohom became Moshe Abramowitz (`witz' indicating `son
of'). This situation was more complicated for the Sefardim
since they named a child after a living parent.
Surnames were often selected from a compulsory list brought
around by civil servants. One's choice of name depended on
how much he could afford to pay or on his position and
community standing. The list was divided by profession or
occupation, such as rabbi or tailor (hence: Rabinowitz,
Miller, Goldschmidt and Chait), physical attributes such as
Klein and Gross (small and big), character, like Ehrlich
(straightforward) or by the name of the town with or without
the addition of `ski' to form such last names as Posen,
Belski or Warshevski. Arbitrary names included colors:
Schwartz, Green, Braun, Weiss for black, green, brown and
white, while many names are abbreviated forms: Segal, for
segan leviim or Zaks -- zera kodesh shenisrefu
(families who had martyrs who died al kiddush Hashem,
and so on. [A young baal tshuva with the unlikely
surname of Duchin discovered that he was from a family of
kohanim -- who had gone up to duchin!]
Names of famous or prestigious families had to be bought or
certificated. Some of these names came before 1820:
Rappaport, Margolis and Horowitz. Kazenellenbogen dates back
to the 1500s. This name, says our expert, Rabbi Meir Wunder,
denotes lineage from Rashi and was based on a small town in
Germany whose Jewish population was expelled and went to
Italy. Rappaport is derived from a town in Italy, with the
first syllable denoting the crest or symbol of a raven.
Horowitz stems from leviim and the name comes from a
village near Prague. Margolies, as one might guess, denotes
the profession of diamond dealer, as may be the name Shapira,
Shapiro, Spiro, which relate to sapphire. On the other hand,
Shapira might originate in the German city of Speyer, one of
the three Kehilos Shu'm. A fascinating subject to
pursue on your own...
Weinberg (wine or vine mountain) was a very common name found
in several locations, villages and towns to people not
related. People from one family branched out and Weinberg
became Weinberger. A second or third brother from the same
family took a different surname to avoid the draft in Eastern
Europe. This was the case if only the first son was not
drafted. This added to the confusion in family lines.
Ellis Island added substantially to this confusion. Custom
officials made out random `Jewish' names. A man whose name in
Romania was Abramovitz became Sin Shalom because when asked
his name, he responded with the statement to where he was
going, "To my son Sholom."
A medical tree lists the ages and illnesses that family
member died of and genetic links, such as the Ashkenazic
illness, Tay-Sachs. It is noted that first cousins who marry
three times or several generations in a row could be
problematic. A medical tree may uncover the reason for a
grandson's red hair when no one else in the immediate family
has a carrot top. The medical tree revealed a great-
grandfather who had red hair. It can also be useful in
calling attention to certain tendencies, such as a weak
heart, and serve as warnings.
Accuracy in tracing family lineage is best achieved by
searching for archives, actual birth, marriage and death
certificates, gravestones and wimpels (long bands of
fine cloth embroidered on the occasion of a boy's birth that
includes name, date and father's name. These `swaddling
cloths' were used at the bris mila and were later
donated to bind the sifrei Torah in the synagogue).
Also valuable are community records, circumcision record
books, kesubos, decorative genealogy records and
memorial plaques. Many families have important dates of
births and deaths and other momentous events recorded in the
flyleaf of the mother's siddur.
For those who want to look into the family history, begin by
interviewing all available family members, look for published
or recorded informal family history and contact the family
historian -- most families have someone who takes an interest
in these facts. A professional genealogist who is an expert
in the field will do a very thorough job.
TREE #1 is suitable for those aged 9 to adult:
Materials:
* Imitation parchment paper or quality bristol paper or
bristol board 12 x 18 inches or larger
* Pencil and eraser
* Metal nib pen, quill pen, calligraphy pen, calligraphy
marker or rapidiograph
* Artist quality goache (opaque) or watercolor paint
(transparent)
* Brush and container with water
Directions:
* Look for ideas of tree motifs in story books, postcards or
reproductions of kesubos and Judaica (parental
supervision necessary). Look at several trees outside for
clues to realism. Compose a design and do a finished version
of the tree inluding color and texture of paint on pratice
paper. This will work out any difficulties in advance. Do
several if necessary.
* If you plan to do calligraphy, practice writing out the
names and dates now. (Perhaps a talented neighbor will fill
in for you.)
* Draw outline of a large tree in pencil, using the whole
paper.
* Write in family name and names of members.
* Ink over pencil lines.
* Paint tree with colors.
TREE #2 suitable for ages 5 years and older:
Materials:
* Imitation parchment paper, Bristol paper or copy paper
* Pencil
* Green and brown colored papers
* Scissors and glue
Directions:
* Draw a large tree with child on practice paper or let child
do it alone.
* Child draws trunk, branches and roots on brown paper.
* Child draws several leaves for each branch
* Child cuts out all pieces
* Assemble on parchment or bristol paper and glue in place
* Write in names of family members on roots, trunk and
leaves
* Frame, if desired, display or give as a gift to
grandparents
TREE #3 ages 4-5 years and older
Materials:
* Imitation parchment paper and school drawing paper or copy
paper
* Pen
* Oil pastels: greens, yellows, browns, mustards, grays - a
light and dark value of each
Directions:
* With a pencil, draw a big tree, emphasizing to child the
necessity of making the tree large enough to accommodate all
the names of family members
* With oil pastels, make a cluster of leaves in a spectrum of
spring or autumn colors by hitting or dabbing the colors
against the paper
* Color the branches and trunk one side light (brown or grey-
brown) and one side dark to suggest light and shading
* Write in family name and names of all members
* Display or give to grandparents. Frame -- optional.
Optional for those who enjoy sewing or fibercraft:
* Do an appliqued or embroidered Family Tree, with or without
filling, of your own design.
* Make a stuffed pillow or toy in the cutout shape of a tree
embroidered with the family names on the branches or
leaves.
