This “Season of Reveling” blog post was written by Rowyn Peel in January 2021
Tu B’Shevat literally means the 15th day of Shevat (a month on the Hebrew calendar), which is when we celebrate the “New Year of the Trees,” or “Jewish Arbor Day.” It is not a major religious holiday, but it is culturally important, because it ties us to our agricultural ancestors. Tu B’Shevat marks the beginning of spring; it is when the trees start to come back to life in Israel.
In the 17th century, mystical scholars (Kabbalists) created a seder, which means “order,” to celebrate the different types of fruits and nuts from trees, and reflect on analogies between each type of fruit and our own body, mind, and spirit. Many Jewish people today hold a short seder to celebrate Tu B’Shevat, but this holiday has also become a day for planting trees, especially in Israel, and a day to focus on environmentalism.
We invite you to say “Happy New Year!” to a tree today! Chag Sameach! (Happy Holiday!)
Resources for celebration:
- Have a Tu BiShvat Seder (ReformJudism.org)
- Download a coloring sheet for children (PDF)
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