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 Torah Thoughts
Tu B’Shevat
This day commemorates the “New Year for the Trees.”
It may come as a surprise to many, but the Mishnah
mentions that there are actually four “New Years” on the Jewish calendar.
We are all familiar with Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of
the month of Tishrei and the day of judgment of humanity. That holiday is
also used for calculating the sabbatical and jubilee years of the
agricultural almanac in the Land of Israel and the determination of the orlah
status of a tree (the fruit of a tree may not be eaten during its first three
years), and for determining to which year the tithes taken from grains and
vegetables belong (tithes taken in one year do not count for crops from
another year- Rosh HaShanah is the cut off point.)
The first of the month of Nissan is considered the New
Year for calculating the years of the reign of Jewish kings. For example, if
a king was anointed in Adar, the month before Nissan, when the first of
Nissan comes around, it will be considered the second year of his reign!
Nissan is also the beginning of counting the pilgrimage festival cycle.
The first of Elul is considered the “new year” for
tithing animals. Animals born before the first of Elul are considered to be
born in the year previous to those born after the first of Elul. (Animals
born in one year may not be used to fulfill the obligation to tithe animals
born in another year.)
The fifteenth of Shevat is the “new year” for trees
regarding the tithing of fruit. Again, one may not use fruit grown in one
year to fulfill ones obligation to tithe fruits of a different year. Fruits
that reach a certain point in the ripening process (petals have fallen off
and the immature fruit is recognizable) after Tu B’Shevat are considered to
be produce of a different year from those that ripen before. Tu B’Shevat also
relates to other agricultural concepts which are beyond the scope of this
article.
Tu B’Shevat has been given a special identity as a quasi
holiday, unlike the first of Nissan or Elul. The reason for this is that Tu
B’Shevat relates to the fruits of the Land of Israel.
The Torah praises the Land by mentioning its special indigenous fruits. (See
Deuteronomy 8:8) When the Jewish People enjoy the fruits, they appreciate the
Land and bless G-d for it. (Deuteronomy 8:10) The fruit thus becomes a symbol
of the special relationship between G-d and His People, and a symbol of the
mission of the Jewish People- to appreciate G-d’s beneficence, thus revealing
the spiritual purpose latent in the physical world. Also, G-d evaluates His
creations at the beginning of their growth cycles (humanity was created on
Rosh HaShanah and is thus judged on that day.) The trees, after the majority
of the winter rains have fallen, begin to renew their growth at this time,
thus they are “judged” now. Man is compared with the “tree of the field”
(Deuteronomy 20:19) (according to one reading of the verse.) This indicates
that it is not only the trees that are being judged on this new year, but humanity
is too. It is thus another opportunity to return to our mission.
Many have a custom to eat fruit on Tu B’Shevat,
especially fruit that grows in Eretz Yisrael. If one eats a fruit for the
first time in the season, the “she-he-cheyanu” blessing is recited, thanking
G-d for allowing us to reach this season. There is a kabalistic custom to
hold a Tu B’Shevat “Seder”, using symbolic fruit and wine. Chasidim have a
custom to pray for a beautiful etrog for the Sukkot festival, even though it
will only be in seven months, since the etrog’ s vital growth begins on Tu
B’Shevat.
Happy Tu B’Shevat and
may we be blessed with a fruitful year!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Baruch Price
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