Tu B'Shvat at JCOM
In the middle of winter, Jews around the world celebrate the New Year of the Trees, or Tu B’Shvat. Primarily an agricultural holiday, it occurs on the fifteenth day of the month of Shvat, the eleventh month in the Jewish calendar. Ancient farmers believed that on this day, the sap begins to rise in the fruit trees in Israel and the land starts to awaken from winter. After the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70C.E., the Jews were exiled from Israel. Tu B’Shvat served as a direct link to their homeland for on this day, they would eat a variety of fruit and nuts that could be obtained in Israel.
Tu B’Shvat is a reminder that we are responsible for the continuation and preservation of our natural environment. It celebrates our hope and intention to make the world more green and healthy. It is a holiday tradition to donate money to the Jewish National Fund to have trees planted in Israel in someone’s honor or memory. Since it’s inception in 1901, JNF has planted over 240 million trees in Israel and has established more than 1000 parks. To learn more please visit www.jnf.org