A Kabbalistic Seder in India

In January of 2003 the Jewish community in Mumbai held a Tu B'Shvat seder at the JDC-sponsored Evelyn Peters Jewish Community Center. 125 people attended, including members of the Indian Bene-Israel community who enjoyed this new experience.

The participants were welcomed by the Community Center's manager who spoke briefly about the importance of the festival and told a short story about Honi Hamagil, the rainmaker. Sharona, the Jewish educator for the Center then spoke briefly about the Tu B'shevat Seder and its connection with the four worlds from a Kabbalastic point of view. She then distributed the 'Tu B'Shvat Haggadah" booklets and the staff coordinated the four groups: Olam Assiyah, Olam Yetzirah, Olam Beriah and Olam Atzilut. The JDC/Community Center staff assigned reading portions of the respective worlds.

Posters were hung signifying the importance of trees in Jewish life and the sitting arrangements were such that the audience was sitting in four groups, representing the four worlds. According to the Kabbalah, the four worlds are:

• Assiyah (action)
• Yetzirah (formation)
• Beriah (creation)
• Atzilut (emanation)

These worlds are symbolized by different wines to drink and different fruits which are eaten during the seder. Corresponding to the four different worlds, the respective fruits were distributed along with fruit drink (wine was avoided). Musical accompaniment was included as part of the meditation during this activity.