On Jewish calendar: 15 Shevat (January/February)
When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. Leviticus 19:23
HOLIDAY BACKGROUND
Also known the “new year” holiday for trees, this dates back to Talmudic times, although the marking of a trees birthday, or date of planting, goes back to the time of Moses as indicated in the text above in counting the first three fruiting years. It is also the Jewish “Arbor Day,” yet it is more. While the Temple stood in the midst of Israel, the people all paid tax to support the priesthood. This was a tithing, a one-tenth tax on a citizen’s increase. This increase was an equivalent to what we would call today “income.” Waskow explains,
The tithing system included a one-tenth tax on fruit. The tithe of fruit could only be given on behalf of the fruit crop of a given year out of the fruit that actually ripened that year. So in order to organize the tithe correctly there had to be a tax year- an agreed date by which to define the end of the fruit crop of the previous year, and the beginning of the fruit crop of the next year (1982:105-106)
Thus, this date, the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat became the fiscal year of a tree’s taxation. Most of the winter rains had fallen by this point, the trees were soaking it up, and their sap was beginning to rise.
For centuries, this holiday was one of great celebration as a mid-winter minor holiday. Always occurring during a full moon,it was a time of dances, festivals, weddings and betrothals. This bright night or night of light provided a fun time for evening activity-and celebrating the time of trees was always a perfect excuse to kick up one’s heels. Adding to the holiday’s gaiety was its marking of the transition from the severity of winter into a period of new life.
Trees themselves are an important symbol in the Bible. Immediately in Genesis, trees of both “Life” and “Good and Evil” are presented. The word of God is often described also as a “Tree of Life.” God valued trees and later tells Moses that when Israel makes war against a land, the trees must be protected. Deuteronomy 20:19. The Psalmist uses trees as imagery as well and describes the righteous man as one “planted by the water.” Psalms 1:3. The cedars of Lebanon are mentioned throughout scripture in a very positive sense. Trees are prominent in scripture. Celebrating them, therefore, seems quite logical.
TRADITIONAL OBSERVANCE
The holiday, as previously mentioned, has been known in ancient times as a time for fun celebration with parties and dances.Today’s observance is usually a little more subdued. Part of today’s traditions involves eating fruit- an appropriate thing to do on this day marking the fiscal year of (fruiting) trees.
Donating to charity is appropriate (as it is on all holidays). It is customary to donate ninety-one of a monetary denomination as a contribution to charity-cents, dollars, etc. This is because the value of ninety-one is the equivalent of the numerical value of the Hebrew letters that make up the word ilan, or tree.
Some households have a Tu B’Shevat Seder. This is a custom stemming from Sephardic and Israeli cultures. Four cups of wine symbolize the four seasons. These are blessed with the Hagafen blessing and drunk in sequence along with fruit and nuts sampled from three categories:
1. The first category is of fruits or nuts that have an inedible shell or peel (pistachio, avocado or pomegranate).
2. The second category holds fruits that can be consumed wholly except for a pit (apricot, date or olive).
3. The third comprises fruit and nuts that can be eaten whole (berries, grapes, and figs).
The seder for Tu B’Shevat is not standardized, as many different communities are finding their own ways of celebrating and developing ways of expressing their appreciation for trees or fruit trees specifically. Experiment and create a seder that is right for your family. You can use fruit that is grown in the Holy Land or even fruit that is indigenous to your local area. The idea is to celebrate the joy of the trees and the fruit God has given us while instilling such an appreciation in our children.
Most obviously is the very appropriate “Arbor Day” custom of actually planting a tree (preferably a fruit tree)! If one cannot plant a tree in their yard, a donation can be made for planting one in Israel or as a memorial for a deceased loved one elsewhere. In Israel, planting trees to honor people is a very common custom. Even Gentiles who were heroic and “righteous” in aiding the Jewish people during World War II are honored with trees planted in their names. As for our family, we annually decorate the house with various “tree-themed” decorations such as artificial palm trees and lights for the children to enjoy. After all, this may be a minor holiday, but it is still a great opportunity to celebrate.