New Year of Fruit Trees (Tu bi-shvat) (17/01)

On this day, called Tu Bishvat in Israel (Tu Bishvat, Hebrew). ט"וּ בִּששפבפט), usually the rainy season ends and nature is revived. Tu Bishvat — is the 15th day of the month of Shvat according to the Jewish calendar.

There are four chronologies in Judaism, four calendars that measure the age of the four worlds. According to one calendar (the first month of which is — nisan) the history of Israel is counted, according to the second (the first month of which is — tishrei) — the history of all mankind, according to the third calendar (the first month of — elul) the age of animals is measured, and according to the fourth (the first month of — shvat) — plants.

In the ancient Jewish state, it was customary, as the Torah prescribes, to annually separate tithes from the crop of fruits for the benefit of priests and Levites engaged in service in the Temple, who did not have land plots, and tithes in favor of the poor. Since such an action should be carried out annually, it was prohibited to separate tithes from a one-year harvest for a yield of another year. The holiday of Tu Bishvat was established by the sages to separate the harvest of one year from the harvest of another.

There is also an additional circumstance regarding trees: the law prohibited the use of the plant’s fruits during the first three years of its fruiting, and in order to know the age of the plant, it is necessary to strictly establish its birthday. Tu Bishvat admits to them. There are no work bans on this day, it is not marked by a call for festive fun, and it is not mentioned in prayers in any way. But some traditions of celebrating it have developed.

After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70, many Jews were forced to leave the land of their fathers. Since the Jewish Temple disappeared and the state collapsed along with all its laws, the celebration of Tu Bishvat ceased to exist. Over the years of devastation and war, many forests and groves have been destroyed. Gradually the land turned into a desert.

With the emergence of the Zionist movement, a new stage began in the history of the development of the holiday. The immigrants who had returned to their fathers' land understood that it was necessary to overcome the desert, drain the swamps and turn the land into a blooming garden. In 1890, 15 mops school principal, writer and historian Ze'ev Javitz came out with his students to plant trees. This is how a new tradition was created in the country: planting trees in Tu Bishvat. The blooming almond tree already at the beginning of the settlement movement turned into a symbol of the holiday.

On this day, children and adults participate in mass tree plantings (Photo: Pavel L Photo and Video, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

Celebrating the New Year of the trees, Jews recall what was said in the Torah about fruit trees: you cannot not only cut down, but also break them, for they bear fruit to man. Man has a lot in common with wood. Just like a tree, a person is strong in his roots. It is the roots, although not visible, that give strength to the tree and man. The crown of the tree — is like human life, the fruits of the tree — are like children.

The festive meal consists of cereals and fruits native to Israel. These are — wheat, rye, olives, dates, grapes, figs, pomegranates mentioned in the Torah, and others. These meals draw attention to the order of consumption of fruits in connection with their origin, with the correlation of their edible and inedible parts. According to various traditions, there should be seven, fifteen or even fifty types of fruits on the table!

Recently, the celebration of Tu Bishvat has acquired additional meaning. The week on which the holiday falls has become a time of hikes and excursions designed to awaken love and respect for nature in people. A tradition has developed: in Tu Bishvat, thousands of people, children and adults, participate in mass tree plantings. Tu Bishvat is widely celebrated not only by Israelis, but also by Jews in America. This holiday is especially popular among supporters of environmental organizations.

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