tu b’shvat
The new year for trees
Tu B’Shvat
Check out the special (free) offer, for subscribers only, at the bottom of this page.
The New Year for Trees
Happy New Year, Trees! In the Hebrew calendar there are four New Years. There’s Rosh Hashana, meaning Head of the Year, which most people know as the Jewish New Year. But Rosh Hashana is on the first day of the seventh month, Tishrei. The first month is Nisan, the month that coincides with the Exodus from Egypt and the celebration of Passover. Then, there’s the New Year for animals in Elul. But today we celebrate Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for trees. Translated, tu b’shvat simply means the 15th day of the month of Shvat.
Does the idea of multiple new years days seem strange? It shouldn’t, when we think about our own calendar. We’ve got New Year’s Day on January 1st, but we also have the fiscal new year, the new school year, and other “new years” that are not coming to mind immediately. So, not so strange.
So, what’s this all about? Trees. We see them every day. There they are. Most of the time we don’t pay them much mind.
But today, we’re celebrating trees and everything that they give to the world. Without them, neither human nor animal life could not exist. They feed us. They manage our atmosphere. They provide us with shade. Think of all the creatures who make their homes in and under trees. And they give up their wood, their very lives, so that we can build shelters for ourselves. But we humans tend to be egocentric. We think everything is about us, for us, but that’s not so. Trees don’t live for us; they live for themselves and each other, just like we do. The fact that they benefit us is incidental to them.
Did you know?
This is not hokey new age nonsense. It’s science.
Trees are sentient beings. They think. They nurture their children. They make decisions, they learn, they remember things. They have a sense of smell and a sense of touch. They communicate with one another, share food among them, and care for their sick, particularly within an individual species. They form friendships and they love. They find significant others. Cut down one tree that’s part of a couple and the other usually dies of its own accord. If you’re as enthralled by this topic as I am, I point you towards the book, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben.
There’s also a practical purpose for this holiday. According to Torah law, In the land of Israel it’s forbidden to harvest fruit from a tree for its first three years, and in the fourth year the fruit belongs to God. In the fifth year, it’s permitted to harvest the fruit. So, In the land of Israel, it’s important to keep track of the age of the trees.
Celebrating Tu b’Shvat
But in Israel, spring is just beginning. The almond trees, the first to do so, are beginning to bloom. The promise of spring is in the air. In Israel, the day is celebrated as Earth Day, and tree planting ceremonies abound.
For me, living thousands of miles from Israel, knowing that the almond trees are blooming creates an aching in my soul. I’ve never been to Israel and I’ve been wanting to go since my grandparents went when I was a child. That desire feels particularly acute today. This is my home, but it’s not my soul’s home. Somewhere deep within me lives a longing to return to the land of my ancestors, at least to visit, and my breath catches at the thought of going HOME.
So go out and plant a tree, if you can. Or contact the Jewish National Fund to have a tree planted in Israel, in your name or in the name of a loved one. At the least, take a few minutes to meditate on just how spectacular trees are, on how glorious is the nature of our planet. Eat some fruit. Take the kids to the market and see how many different kinds of fruit you can find. Put on your puffy jacket and go out and hug a tree. Plan a Tu B’Shvat dinner if you like.
In the United States, where there are so many different climates, the timing of tu b’shvat can seem random and senseless. Perhaps where you live, the trees are leafless and covered in snow and ice. The earth, which may also be covered in snow, is frozen solid. The idea of planting trees today is preposterous. Where I live in central Florida, the weather is cooler than in the summer months but there’s nothing remarkable to be aware of that would tell me, “Oh! It must be Tu B’Shvat!”
The Mystical Aspect
n the 16th century the great Kabbalist, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed and his disciples thought about how the primordial tree, the Tree of Life, relates to this special day. They created a Tu B’Shvat Seder based upon the Passover Seder. There are four glasses of wine, each one different from the others, and many ceremonial foods that consist primarily of fruits and nuts.
Participating in a Tu B’Shvat seder can be a deeply mystical experience, as well as a very delicious one.
I’ve created a Tu B’Shvat seder of my own, based on the ones that came before me, but with my own twist. During our seder, we’ll climb the Tree of Life, striving to reach into the higher realms to commune with the angels. It’s considerably shorter than the Passover Seder, but hopefully just as moving, in a different way.
Scroll down to get your own digital copy of Climbing the Tree, a Tu B’Shvat Seder
Example of a JNF certificate. many styles are available.
Many synagogues and Jewish Community Centers host Tu B’Shvat Seders. Consider reaching out and finding one to attend in your community.
Or, try hosting one of your own.
MyTu B’Shvat Haggadah, Climbing The Tree, is now available as a gift to my subscribers.
Email thetwistedchallah@gmail.com to request your copy.
Not a subscriber yet? Sign up below today and then request your copy!
So, what shall we eat?
There are differing opinions on how many fruits one is supposed to eat on tu b’shvat. I’ve seen the number stated as 15, 30, 32, and 50. We’re going to try to use recipes that include as many fruits and nuts as possible, and have lots of other fruits to nibble on as well, with our goal being to taste as many fruits as we can procure from our local markets.
Fruits of the Four Worlds of Emanation: According to mystics, creation consists of four worlds that descend from the world of pure spirit to the world of physicality. Spiritual awakening requires one to ascend these worlds, climbing ever higher on the tree of life. All fruits on “the tree” are representations of one of these worlds. On Tu B’Shvat we try to eat fruits from each of them.
In addition to all these lovely fruits, I’ll be serving a festive dinner that will include many gifts of the trees.
Let’s start with an amazingly fabulous Chestnut Shiitake Soup.
For the entrée I’ll make the ever-popular Cashew Mushroom Loaf and serve it with a sweet, tart, savory Kumquat and Onion Compote. A gorgeous Vegetable Tian will add deliciousness and color to the plate. These can all be assembled the day before and just popped in the oven at serving time, so yay.
The Torah describes the land of Israel as, “A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey.” These foods formed the basis of the diet of our ancestors in the promised land. Although scholars debate the number of fruits we should eat, one thing they all agree on is that we should consume the seven species of Israel on this day. This hearty Seven Species Salad is a scrumptious way to do that. In fact, with whole wheat pearl couscous and toothsome barley, it could easily be the entrée. There are many versions of this salad on the internet. I think mine is the best – obviously I think that, or I’d be making a different one. It’s sweet and tart, and chewy and nutty and very satisfying. The pepper gives it a nice little kick.
It seems like a good meal to add a cheese course. This Brie and Pear Torte adds a sophisticated touch for all the gourmands at the table.
And of course, there’s always dessert. A simple scoop of vanilla ice cream becomes something special when sprinkled with carob chips and drizzled with lingonberry preserves.
-
The lowest of the four worlds is Asiyah, is the world of physicality. We create shells around ourselves to shield and protect our essence. We eat fruits with hard outsides and soft insides. Pomegranates, walnuts, almonds, coconuts, pistachios, chestnuts, hazelnuts, pineapple, pecans, banana, and grapefruit are some of the fruits of Asiyah
-
Next we climb to Yitzirah, the world of formation, the world of emotion, of creativity. We remove some of the layers and open ourselves to emotional vulnerability. But we still protect the deepest parts of ourselves. We eat fruits that are soft on the outside and hard on the inside. Olives, dates, cherries, persimmons, apricot, plums, mango, avocado, peach, and nectarine are some of the fruits of Yitzirah.
-
And we climb even higher, to Beriyah, the world of the intellect, of potential. Here, we release both our outer shells and our inner pits and allow ourselves to trust, to feel the unity between ourselves and all of creation. We eat fruits that are soft on the outside and soft on the inside. Figs, apples, pears, quince, grape, kiwi, starfruit, blueberries, and cranberries are some of the fruits of Beriyah.
-
The world of Atzilut is the world of pure spirit. It’s where King and Queen join and become One, a state of eternal rectification that allows for the creation of the lower worlds. There are no fruits for Atzilut. Its food is love, wisdom, and mercy. It’s the spark of light, of holiness, that infuses all of creation.
tu b’shvat menu
Have small bowls with all your fruits set about the table, for guests to sample.
Or, if you’re having a seder, serve the fruits that are associated with each of the worlds when you reach that part of the service.
See below for some ideas.