We Join Israeli Actress Noa Tishby in Wishing You a Happy Tu B'Shvat,

Today is Tu B'Shvat, the Israeli holiday that marks the New Year for Trees. We're joining Noa Tishby, Israeli activist, actress, model, producer, and writer in welcoming the holiday and publicizing some of its features and traditions.

Tu B’Shvat is a holiday which is deeply tied to the land of Israel. It’s a reminder that Judaism is an indigenous faith rooted in the seasons and the fruits of this land. The seven species mentioned in the Bible, wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates, aren’t just symbolic. They represent a tangible connection to an ancient agricultural heritage and the physical land that shaped Jewish identity. 

In the Middle Ages, the custom developed to celebrate Tu B’Shvat with a feast of fruits. And in the 16th century, the Kabbalist rabbi, Yitzchak Luria, instituted a Tu B’Shvat seder, which is similar to the Passover seder, in which Jews all over the diaspora were able to reconnect to the land of Israel through eating her indigenous fruits. 

According to Kabbalah, when you eat fruits from the trees, it helps a human soul evolve. And Judaism is about being present to every single thing that you do and everything that you eat as well. Tu B’Shvat reminds us that Judaism and the land of Israel are inseparable. The roots of the Jewish people are right here. And to celebrate Tu B’Shvat is to celebrate Zionism, not as a modern political movement, but as a profound acknowledgement of a people’s enduring bond with the land of their ancestors. 

The land of Israel isn’t just a backdrop to Jewish history. It’s part of the story itself. And every seed sown, every tree planted, and every fruit harvested and eaten is a continuation of that story. 

Chag Tu B’Shvat Sameach, everyone.

Noa Tishby Lights Chanukah Candles with Actress Mila Kunis

Noa Tishby is an Israeli activist, actress, model, producer, and writer. As an actress, she appeared in a variety of American television shows and movies, including The Affair, The Island, Nip/Tuck, Big Love, NCIS, and others.

Tishby was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in May 1975 into a Jewish family involved in the establishment of Israel. The kibbutz her grandfather co-founded was among the first in Israel's history. Tishby began acting at an early age, appearing in commercials by age 8. As a teenager, she earned a drama scholarship from the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and acted in several stage productions and television shows. She also served two and a half years in the Israel Defense Forces.

Tishby also focuses on Zionist activism, founding the advocacy organization Act for Israel in 2011. In 2021, she published her first book, Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth. She served as the Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and the Delegitimization of Israel for one year, from 2022 to 2023. 

This year Tishby has been posting a video each night of Chanukah in which she lights the menorah with another celebrity while discussing elements of their Jewish background.

On the second night of Hanukkah Noa Tishby was joined by actress Mila Kunis, who was born in Ukraine, where she and her family had to hide most of their Jewish identity. 

It wasn’t until she moved to the U.S. and started a family that she began to reconnect with Judaism. Join them as we watch them light the candles together—and even get a little help from Ashton Kutcher over the phone!

Enjoy, and Happy Chanukah!

Noa Tishby Lights Hanukkah Candles Each Night With Another Celebrity; First Night with Gwyneth Paltrow

Noa Tishby is an Israeli activist, actress, model, producer, and writer. As an actress, she appeared in a variety of American television shows and movies, including The Affair, The Island, Nip/Tuck, Big Love, NCIS, and others.

Tishby was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in May 1975 into a Jewish family involved in the establishment of Israel. The kibbutz her grandfather co-founded was among the first in Israel's history. Tishby began acting at an early age, appearing in commercials by age 8. As a teenager, she earned a drama scholarship from the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and acted in several stage productions and television shows. She also served two and a half years in the Israel Defense Forces.

Tishby also focuses on Zionist activism, founding the advocacy organization Act for Israel in 2011. In 2021, she published her first book, Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth. She served as the Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and the Delegitimization of Israel for one year, from 2022 to 2023. 

This year Tishby has been posting a video each night of Chanukah in which she lights the menorah with another celebrity while discussing elements of their Jewish background. We'll backtrack to the first night of Chanukah when she appeared together with actress Gwyneth Paltrow and then to the next few nights with different guests.

Enjoy, and Happy Hanukkah!