Tu B’Shevat 2020: Here is everything you need to know about Tu BiShvat

Tu B’Shevat is a Jewish holiday happening on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. In 2020, Tu BiShvat starts at sunset on February 9 and finishes on the evening of February 10. It is additionally called Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot, truly ‘New Year of the Trees’.

This day praises the “New Year for the Trees” and their significance in the Jewish Society. Much like Arbor Day, this day is about trees and planting them to make the land more healthy and vibrant.

Otherwise called the “New Year of the Trees”, Tu B’Shevat is one of the four ‘New Years’ of the Jewish calendar, referenced in the Talmud, alongside the first day of Tishrei (the month where we observe Rosh Hashana, the most notable new year); the first day of Nissan (during which month we observe Passover), the first day of Elul (the month before the High Holy Days), and the fifteenth day of Shvat. This New Year of the Trees on the fifteenth day of Shvat generally happens around the finish of January or the start of February, making it (at least in the northern hemisphere) an amusing season for the festival of plants and new life.

Tu B’Shevat has importance in Jewish law since it is the cutoff date by which the age of a tree is calculated for the sake of orlah, a Biblical prohibition against eating the fruit of a tree in its first three years. (Most specialists state that this prohibition is just in actuality within the Land of Israel.) After Tu B’Shevat of the tree’s third year, the fruit is allowed for consumption, given that the applicable tithing has happened.

What is Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year for trees?

Tu B’Shevat is one of four Jewish New Year festivities – this one explicitly planned for celebrating agribusiness and trees. The date, which falls on the Jewish month of Shevat – the name truly signifying ’15th day of Shevat’ – marks the start of the agricultural year, when trees rise out of their winter slumber and start to bear fruit once more.

It is likewise viewed as the birth date of trees, with the Torah saying fruit trees ought not to be harvested for three years after first being planted. The day is likewise an opportunity to raise awareness of ecology – with kids urged to plant trees in Israel and nurture their natural environment. The individuals who are celebrating Tu B’Shevat anyplace other than Israel will sometimes raise funds to go towards planting trees there. The day is otherwise called Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot, which signifies ‘New Year Of The Trees’ in Hebrew.

Tu B’shevat gets its name from the date on which the holiday happens, the 15th of the month of Shevat. A minor Jewish holiday, it is frequently alluded to as the new year (or “birthday”) of the trees. The holiday began in the Talmud and depended on the date picked for calculating the agricultural cycle of taking tithes from the produce of the trees, which were brought as first-fruit contributions to the Temple in Jerusalem.

The name Tu BiShvat is gotten from the Hebrew date of the holiday, which happens on the 15th day of Shevat. “Tu” represents the Hebrew letters Tet and Vav, which together have the numerical value of 9 and 6, adding up to 15. The date may likewise be called “Ḥamisha Asar BiShvat”, which signifies “Fifteenth of Shevat”.

How to celebrate Tu B’shevat?

The holiday of Tu B’shevat fell out of practice after the demolition of the Second Temple, yet was revived by kabbalists in the Middle Ages. They initiated the act of Tu B’shevat seder, a meal that somewhat reflects the Passover seder and includes eating biblical foods native to the Holy Land and drinking four cups of wine.

In contemporary Israel, the day is praised as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.

Tu B’shevat has formed into a natural occasion that helps Jews to remember our association with the earth and to our job as overseers of the earth. Some cutting edge rehearses incorporate giving cash to plant trees in Israel or planting trees locally. The kabbalistic Tu B’shevat seder has likewise been recovered.

Tu B’Shevat isn’t a Yom Tov celebration – in other words, a day on individuals cease from work and different exercises. However that doesn’t mean individuals don’t celebrate, and for the individuals who do it’s customary to eat lots of fruit and hold huge feasts – known as Tu B’Shevat seders – with family. Fruit and foods are eaten during the day incorporate those related to the Holy Land and the seven praised by the Torah (grapes, wheat, grain, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates). Attempting new fruits and foods is likewise supported as is drinking four glasses of wine. Fasting during Tu B’Shevat isn’t encouraged as the day is a festival.

Numerous Jewish communities in the United States observe the celebration by eating fruit on this day. The Torah praises seven “fruits”, specifically grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. Numerous Jewish individuals additionally attempt to eat a new fruit, which can be any seasonal fruit. Some Jewish communities plant trees on Tu B’Shevat.

Fruits and trees take center stage on Tu BiShevat. It is standard to eat lots of fruit on the day, particularly those traditionally connected with the zone Jewish individuals view as the Holy Land: grapes, wheat, grain, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. These kinds of food additionally highlight intensely in Tu BiShvat seders, celebratory feasts held by Jewish families and communities all around the UK.

Tu BiShvat is additionally an event for Jewish individuals to taste a new sort of fruit or one they have not eaten at this point during the present year.

Another tradition related to Tu BiShvat is planting a tree or raising funds for charities committed to planting trees in Israel.

Numerous Jewish individuals put forth a special attempt to eat a meal comprising of dried fruit and nuts joined by red wine or grape juice. They often share this meal with relatives and dear companions. A few people pickle or candy the etrog (a citrus fruit) utilized at the functions during Sukkot and eat it on Tu B’Shevat.

Numerous Jewish individuals, especially in Israel and on kibbutzim, plant trees or participate in exercises to advance environmental awareness. Right now, B’Shevat shares a ton for all intents and purposes with Arbor Day festivities around the globe.

What kinds of foods are eaten on Tu B’shevat?

As part of the Tu B’shevat seder, it is standard to eat from shiv’at ha’minim (seven species endemic to the Land of Israel): wheat, grain, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates. Past that, there are numerous potential varieties for setting up a Tu B’shevat dinner, for the most part fusing dried fruit and nuts, and one can be inventive in deciding how to plan the menu.

Those celebrating Tu B’Shevat typically eat lots of fruit and hold tremendous feasts – known as Tu B’Shevat seders – with family. Fruit and foods are eaten during Tu B’Shevat incorporate those related to the Holy Land and the seven praised by the Torah (grapes, wheat, grain, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates). Attempting new fruits and foods is likewise encouraged as is drinking four glasses of red and white wine. Fruits are honored each time they have eaten also. It is viewed as poor form to fast during Tu B’Shevat as the date is a festival.

What is the proper greeting for Tu B’shevat?

There is no official greeting for the holiday. The standard “Chag Sameach!” (Happy Holiday) might be said.

As its name in Hebrew recommends, Tu B’shevat happens on the 15th of Shevat.

Why do Jewish holidays start at nighttime?

As indicated by the Torah, the tale of creation in Genesis says “And it was evening, and it was morning day one”, “And it was evening, and it was morning; the second day”, in this manner night precedes day. So for the Jewish calendar, all days start at nightfall and end the next day at nightfall including holidays.