WHEN IS TU B'SHEVAT?
Tu B'Shevat is the 15th of Shevat. On the Gregorian calendar, it comes in late January or early February. See hebcal.com for date converter.
When we celebrate Tu B'Shevat we recognize the providence of G-d. If G-d does not bring the sunshine, rain and harvest, the farmer plants in vain.
PLANT A TREE IN ISRAEL
Tu B'Shevat is an arbor day celebration, the birthday of the trees. It's a great time to plant. We invest in the future and restoration of our planet by planting and nurturing trees. You can invest in the nation of Israel by planting a tree through the Jewish National Fund.
MORE CELEBRATION IDEAS
** Plant a seedling, or give a small tree as a gift for someone else to plant.
** Eat of the “Seven Species”, the seven kinds of food for which G-d praised the land of Israel: wheat and barley, [grape] vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olives and [date] honey (Deuteronomy 8: 8).
** Eat almonds. Almond trees produce the first blossoms in Israel, so they are called shaked, or "watcher". Almond trees keep watch for spring. Americans use a groundhog to watch for spring, but that's another story.
** Eat a fruit that you haven't yet eaten this year. Preferably jam made from etrog saved from the Sukkot celebration.
** Decorate the trees at your home.
** Make a tree birthday cake. Use a loaf pan for the trunk and a round pan for the top. Decorate with dried fruit and almonds. Or make a fruitcake.
IN THE FIFTH YEAR YOU MAY USE ITS FRUIT
Tu B'Shevat is the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat on the Hebrew calendar.
Leviticus 19:23-25 says, "When you enter the land and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden for you, not to be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit shall be set aside for jubilation before the L-RD; and only in the fifth year may you use its fruit--that its yield to you may be increased: I the L-RD am your G-d." (New JPS Translation)
Every 15th of Shevat, a tree is considered one year older.
Tu B'Shevat is not found in the Bible.
