What is Tu BiShvat?
Tu BiShvat is the Jewish "New Year for Trees," falling on the fifteenth of the Hebrew month of Shvat. It originally marked a date for calculating the age of trees for agricultural tithes, and today it's celebrated as a kind of Jewish Arbor Day — a time to eat fruit (especially the species associated with the Land of Israel), appreciate nature, and reflect on growth and renewal. It's a quiet, hopeful holiday that arrives in midwinter, when the first signs of spring stir in the trees.
How is Tu BiShvat celebrated?
- Eating fruit, especially the seven species the Torah associates with the Land of Israel (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates).
- A Tu BiShvat seder in some communities — a festive order of fruits and wine inspired by the Passover Seder.
- Connecting to nature and the environment, planting trees, and reflecting on growth.
Why a "New Year for Trees"?
The Jewish calendar actually has several "new years," each for a different purpose. Tu BiShvat is the one for trees — historically a cutoff date for tithing fruit. Over time it gathered rich symbolism: people are compared to trees, and the day became a celebration of rootedness, patience, and growth — themes that map neatly onto a steady learning practice.
In short: Tu BiShvat is the Jewish "New Year for Trees" — celebrated with fruit, gratitude for nature, and reflection on growth.
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