What is Tu B’Shvat?
A couple months after Hanukkah, around January or February, we Jewish folks observe another holiday, Tu B’Shvat (or “the fifteenth of Shvat,” Shvat being a month in the Hebrew calendar). This is considered our New Year of the Trees. We recognize the contributions of trees to nature and to our very existence (a bit similar to Arbor Day, but there’s more to it).
This is not technically recognized in the Bible as a holiday, but it’s still considered one of the four “New Year’s” that we have in Judaism (including the first month of the Jewish calendar in the springtime, the traditional Rosh Hashanah Jewish new year in the fall, the New Year of the trees in the winter, and the lesser-known ancient new year of tithing or contributing cattle for the Temple in late summer). In Israel, the rainy season lasts mainly from Sukkot (the harvest festival in the fall) to Tu B’Shvat; at this time of year, it’s thought that the produce yielded by fruit trees begins to form, maturing and ripening by spring/summer/fall depending on the fruit. According to biblical tradition, each of the first few years of a tree’s life was to be counted: fruit was to left unpicked for the first three years (possibly to allow the tree to mature); fruit was to be blessed and eaten in Jerusalem in year 4; and fruit could be eaten in any location and at any time starting in year 5, with tithes (contributions to the Temple priests and the poor) of fruit to be set aside in certain years as well. Marking Tu B’Shvat each year enabled the Jewish people to adhere to the biblical laws.
We also celebrate the growth of new life and the importance of trees in our world. Trees provide both food and oxygen, even shade from the sun, for us and all creatures. They offer homes for many, allowing birds to nest in the branches, of course, but also squirrels and chipmunks to hide within little hollows and even vines to cling to the bark. There is even an Aesop’s fable, “The Plane Tree,” in which on a hot day, two travelers rest in the shade of a plane tree (more commonly known as a sycamore) and complain that the tree doesn’t bear fruit and is therefore pointless; the tree responds, “You lie here in my cooling shade, and yet you say I am useless!” reminding us that all trees are beneficial – as the moral goes, “Our best blessings are often the least appreciated.” Tu B’Shvat focuses on fruit trees in particular, but we must not take for granted the innate worth of trees in general.
There is a story in the Talmud (the explanatory guide that goes along with the Jewish Bible) that goes like this: the wise man Choni was walking along and came upon an elderly man planting a carob tree (carob being a Mediterranean plant a bit similar to cacao). Choni asked the man how long it would take the tree to grow and produce fruit, to which he responded, “Seventy years.” Choni was surprised that the man would plant a tree of which he would not be able to enjoy and partake of the fruit. But the man said, “However, when I was born into this world, I found many carob trees planted by my father and grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and grandchildren so they will be able to eat the fruit of these trees.” (This particular quote is from the version on spiritoftrees.org.) Trees don’t grow overnight; the ancient date palm used to take 70 years to provide fruit (today’s date palms take up to 10-15 years, less time but still significant). But this fruit is among the sweetest in the world (seriously, if you’ve never had dates before, check them out, they’re amazing – as a young child, it took me a while to warm up to fruit, but from day one of tasting it, I always enjoyed the natural sweetness of a dried date). This teaches us that some of the sweetest things in life are ones you have to wait for. The story also enlightens us on the power of looking out for the next generation and our duty to be guardians of our children’s future.
“Man is Like a Tree”
In Deuteronomy Ch. 20:19, man is compared to a tree of the field. Why, you may ask? We’re both living creatures, but how on earth are we anything like an unmoving plant? The answer is that we’re more alike than can be seen at first glance. Humans are grounded by connection to family, ancestors, and community, and by faith in G-d; circumstances in your life may change – your life may even make a 180 – but knowing that your family/community and G-d are there holds you steady. This can be likened to a tree’s roots, which hold it in place; if the root system is weak, the tree may be apt to fall, but a strong network underground can keep the tree standing in a storm. Similarly to the tree, we both reach out and upward for nourishment and encouragement, without which we will be doomed to stagnate. The fruit and seeds of a tree are likened to a human’s good deeds; they may find their way away from the original source, but they serve to nourish and inspire others and can grow and blossom into more saplings of goodness. Click here for a fantastic article regarding all the ways man is like a tree, and click here to see 9 inspiring ways we can emulate trees (I absolutely love these articles and highly recommend them as a supplementary read – incredibly inspiring).
How Do We Celebrate Today?
As part of Tu B’Shvat, we celebrate nature’s bounty provided by G-d. It is common to eat fruits and nuts, including those specifically associated with Israel. According to Deuteronomy 8:8, Israel is “a land of wheat and barley, of [grape] vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and [date] honey…” and the country is still associated with these foods. Some Jews may engage in a Seder similar to Passover, eating various fruits and nuts intermingled with drinking wine and reciting blessings, allowing a stronger focus on the joy brought by eating the fruit. We want to show appreciation for what G-d has created and provided for us; by saying a blessing praising G-d and thanking G-d for His creation, then tasting the fruit and really savoring the sweet flavor and texture, we can be truly grateful for this gift.
There is also a concept that humans are rather like various fruits and nuts. Some have an exterior that is inedible, while the luscious interior is softer and sweet; these could include pomegranates, pistachios, chestnuts, coconuts, and walnuts, among others. There are many times when we humans put up a hard exterior as well, namely, when we are threatened or feel judged; but our true personalities are inside, waiting to be seen. Some fruits have a hard pit inside that cannot be eaten, such as cherries, dates, peaches, and olives. Similarly, we ourselves may be somewhat at ease in certain situations and can open up somewhat, but perhaps we still retain a piece of ourselves inside until we’re more comfortable. Then there are fruits with neither a shell or a pit, completely edible, like berries, grapes, figs, and apples. When we are most comfortable, we open ourselves up, exposing both our outer appearance to the world as well as our innermost essence, who we truly are.
It is also a common custom to plant a tree in Israel, or to make a contribution to an organization that will plant a tree in Israel on your behalf. You can also plant seeds at home and watch them sprout and thrive, or create your own terrarium.
Takeaway
Quite a few of the Jewish holidays express gratitude for G-d’s creations, and Tu B’Shvat is no exception. On this day, we take a few moments to really appreciate these majestic beauties and the gifts they offer. We also recognize the resemblance between ourselves and the tree, and are reminded that good things come to those who wait. So next time you go outside, take a few moments to look up into those magnificent branches and really appreciate the spirit coursing through its trunk, and don’t be afraid to hug that great big round life force – I did so myself this week, honest to G-d, and it’s one of the most awe-inspiring and natural things you can do.
Sources referenced and utilized:
Note: Some of the book titles below include affiliate links to Amazon. This simply means that any purchases through these links may generate a small commission for us, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. More info can be found in our full disclaimer here. I personally own all of these books, consulted them for this article, and highly recommend if you’re interested in further learning. Thank you for your support!
JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh: The Traditional Hebrew Text and The New JPS Translation, Second Edition. The Jewish Publication Society. 1999.
Jewish Literacy: Revised Edition. by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. William Morrow, HarperCollins Publishers. 1991, 2001, 2008.
The Jewish Holidays: A Guide and Commentary. by Michael Strassfeld. William Morrow, HarperCollins Publishers. 1985, 2001.
chabad.org: a wealth of information regarding all things Jewish, with an Orthodox/modern Orthodox point of view – the link here takes you to their Tu B’Shvat page with lots of great articles on the holiday
aish.com: another great resource for info on Jewish living and heritage
hazon.org: a Jewish organization focused on sustainability, they provide a Tu B’Shvat seder program for download each year, with lots of food for thought.
The Aesop for Children. Checkerboard Press. 1947. (identical 1919 version available to read for free online here)
Cover image photo credit: IStockPhoto.com/photonaj
This was really neat to learn about. I had never heard of Tu B’Shvat before. There’s a part in the Book of Mormon that uses olive trees in an allegory about Israel, and your part about comparing man to a tree made me think of that, since it describes roots, tops, grafting, and pruning. Thanks for sharing about your faith and beliefs. It’s really interesting.
Glad you found it informative, Laura!