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Tu B'Shevat

Jan 25

Written by: Ray Reynolds
1/25/2010 10:50 AM

Tu B'Shevat

“When you come to the land and you plant any tree, you shall treat its fruit as forbidden; for three years it will be forbidden and not eaten. In the fourth year, all of its fruit shall be sanctified to praise the LORD. In the fifth year, you may eat its fruit.” (Leviticus 19:23-25)

Have you ever noticed these strange names and days on your calendar? I mentioned around the first of the year that I would be teaching and preaching through the calendar in 2010. The next couple of weeks include many special days: Tu B’Shevat (1/30), Groundhog Day (2/2), Chinese New Year (2/14), Valentines’ Day (2/14), President’s Day (2/15), Mardi Gras (2/16) and Ash Wednesday (2/17).

What is Tu B'Shevat? Tu B'Shevat is a Jewish holiday held on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat (sunset 1/29/10 to nightfall 1/30/10). It is a holiday also known as the New Year for Trees. The word "Tu" is not really a word; it is the number 15 in Hebrew, as if you were to call the Fourth of July "IV July" (IV being 4 in Roman numerals). It is based on the aforementioned text from Leviticus and the following passage fromt he Mishnah: “There are four new years... the first of Shevat is the new year for trees according to the ruling of Beit Shammai; Beit Hillel, however, places it on the fifteenth of that month.” (Rosh Hashanah 1:1)

Judaism has several different “new years” (Rosh Hashanah) throughout the calendar year and they begin and end differently from the calendar we are used to viewing. Seem strange? I know our English/American calendar year goes from January to December, but the school year goes from September to June, and many businesses have fiscal years (usually Spring to Spring or Fall to Fall). It’s basically the same idea with the various Jewish new years.

Tu B'Shevat is the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. Leviticus 19:23-25 clearly states that fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years. The fourth year of a tree’s fruit is for God. After that, you can eat the fruit. Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B'Shevat. So, if for instance, you planted a tree on Shevat 14, it begins its second year the next day, but if you plant a tree two days later, on Shevat 16, it does not reach its second year until the next Tu B'Shevat.

Interestingly enough, Tu B'Shevat is not mentioned in the Torah, only the concept of the holiday. I have found only one reference to it in the Mishnah (mentioned above, references given to two different rabbis). There are a few customs or observances related to this holiday. One custom is to eat a new fruit on this day that is beginning its fifth year. Some people plant trees on this day. A lot of Jewish children go around collecting money for trees for Israel at this time of year as well. But, that’s pretty much all there is to Tu B'Shevat. Now if someone asks you, “What is Tu B'Shevat?” you will be ready to give an answer. Have a great week!

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