This Wednesday evening and Thursday, Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Tu B’Shevat (15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat). Tu B’shevat traditions include planting new trees, and eating dried fruit. Tu B
This Wednesday evening and Thursday, Jews around the world will celebrate the holiday of Tu B’Shevat (15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat). Tu B’shevat traditions include planting new trees, and eating dried fruit. Tu B’Shevat has also become the Jewish Earth Day, to celebrate the environment and learn about ecology.
What is Tu B’Shevat all about?
In ancient times, rabbis set Tu B’Shevat as the new year for trees. Since the date of tree’s flowering determined the age of the fruit, a tree whose flowers budded before Tu Beshevat yielded fruit that counted as produce from the previous year.
The rabbis needed to know the age of the fruit for two reasons:
- Tithes were taken on a seven-year cycle. For example, during the third and sixth years of the cycle an extra portion was given to the poor. During the se