by Rabbi David Kastor

“Tu B’Shevat – The Fifteen of Shevat”

Judaism cared about the nature long before Earth Day. There is another New Year’s Day in the winter for trees and it is called Tu B’Shevat. It is different than New Year’s Day in September (Rosh Hashanah).

What does Tu B’Shevat mean? The word, Tu B’Shevat is not really a word and has the pronunciation of the numeral 15. (T = “Tes” = 9); (V= “vav” ::: 6); 9 + 6 = 15. Take a look at the Jewish month, Shevat, on the Hebrew calendar and find the number 15 there.

The Torah doesn’t mention the holiday at all. Tu B’ Shevat has its purpose to calculate the age of trees for tithing (crops and produce) and it’s only practiced in Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel). There is a seven-year cycle; the particular year will mandate to whom the tithes are given. (See Lev. 19:23-25).

The 15th of Shevat marks the end and the beginning of the “fiscal year” for trees.

Rabbi Eliyhau Kitov said, “Our Sages have designated the 15th of Shevat as the boundary, for trees, between one year and another, since most of the rains of the previous year, in the Land of Israel, have already fallen. A certain percentage of the fruit has reached the stage of “begun to ripen.” This is defined as from the time of blossoming until the fruit has reached one third of its full growth. Fruit, which have reached this stage, are attributed to the previous year. Any new blossoming of fruit this day is a result of the blessings of the new year.”

Another reason for Tu B’Shevat is that the time of judgment like Rosh Hashanah for the trees and G-d decides which tree can grow more or less like people. Some people become rich, or poor like that.

On Tu B’ Shevat, there are some “tree related” customs. They are 1) eat seven species of fruits that grow in Israel (for example: grapes, figs, dates … ) or a new fruit you find at the supermarket or farm, 2) Some people plant trees, and 3) children collect money for trees.

This year, Tu B’Shevat falls on Jan 18th, 2003 (5763) .