Tu B'Shvat: The New Year for Trees

A new year for trees. Only in Judaism would trees have their own Rosh Hashanah. But that is exactly what Tu B'Shvat is, and the more you understand it, the more beautiful it becomes.

What Is Tu B'Shvat?

Tu B'Shvat falls on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shvat (usually January or February). "Tu" is the Hebrew letters tet-vav, which equal 15. In the Mishnah, this date is designated as the Rosh Hashanah (new year) for trees.

What does that mean practically? In the Land of Israel, fruit from trees must be tithed (a portion given to the Kohen, Levite, or the poor). The "birthday" of a tree — its age for tithing purposes — is determined by Tu B'Shvat. Fruit that blossomed before Tu B'Shvat belongs to the previous year; fruit that blossomed after belongs to the new year.

Why Does It Matter Today?

Even though the tithing laws are only fully applicable in Israel and are related to the Temple service, Tu B'Shvat has taken on broader meaning. It is a day to appreciate the natural world, to connect to the Land of Israel, and to celebrate the fruits that G-d provides.

Customs and Traditions

Eating Fruits

The main Tu B'Shvat custom is eating fruit — particularly the fruits associated with the Land of Israel. The Torah describes Israel as a land of "wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates" (the Seven Species). Many people make a point of eating as many different types of fruit as possible on Tu B'Shvat, including exotic fruits they might not normally try.

There is a custom to eat a "new fruit" — a fruit you have not eaten yet that season — so you can say the Shehecheyanu blessing (thanking G-d for bringing you to this occasion).

The Tu B'Shvat Seder

The Kabbalists of 16th-century Tzfat (Safed) developed a special Tu B'Shvat seder — a structured meal modeled loosely on the Passover seder. It involves eating fruits in a specific order and drinking four cups of wine that progress from white to red, symbolizing the transition from winter to spring.

The fruits are divided into three categories:

• Fruits with an inedible outer shell (nuts, pomegranates, oranges) — representing the physical world
• Fruits with an inedible inner pit (dates, olives, cherries) — representing the emotional world
• Fruits that are entirely edible (figs, grapes, berries) — representing the spiritual world

Not every community does a Tu B'Shvat seder, but it has become increasingly popular across the Orthodox world.

Planting Trees

In Israel, Tu B'Shvat is often marked by planting trees. School children go on tree-planting outings, and the Jewish National Fund (KKL) has historically connected Tu B'Shvat to its reforestation efforts. While this is more of an Israeli-national custom than a halachic one, it connects beautifully to the day's theme.

The Spiritual Dimension

The Torah compares a person to a tree: "For a person is like a tree of the field" (Deuteronomy 20:19). Just as a tree needs roots, water, and sunlight, a person needs roots (faith and family), nourishment (Torah and mitzvot), and light (connection to G-d).

Tu B'Shvat falls in the middle of winter, when the trees in Israel are just beginning to show the first signs of new sap rising. On the surface, everything still looks dormant. But beneath the bark, new life is stirring. There is a powerful lesson in that — sometimes the most important growth is the growth you cannot see yet.

In my house, Tu B'Shvat is one of those low-key holidays that everyone secretly loves. The table is covered with bowls of dried fruits, fresh fruits, nuts, and chocolate-covered everything. The kids get excited about trying unusual fruits. And there is something grounding about taking a day to thank G-d for something as simple and essential as a tree.