Tu B’Shevat
February 12, 2025 @ 5:13 pm - February 13, 2025 @ 5:15 pm
Tu B’Shevat (or Tu Bishvat) marks the “birthday of the fruit trees” under Jewish law, and is often celebrated by a symbolic meal and tree planting activities.
The name of this festival is actually its date: “Tu” is a pronunciation of the Hebrew letters for the number 15, and it falls in the Hebrew month of Shevat.
Traditionally, Tu Bishvat was not a Jewish festival. Rather, it marked an important date for Jewish farmers in ancient times. This law raised the question of how farmers were to mark the “birthday” of a tree. The rabbis therefore established the 15th of the month of Shevat as a general “birthday” for all trees, regardless of when they were actually planted.
Fruit trees were awarded special status in the Torah because of their importance in sustaining life and as a symbol of God’s divine favor. Learn more here.