Hebrew For Beginners
Feb 9, 20202 min
Updated: Jan 4, 2021
Tu Bishvat ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט is a Jewish holiday. It is also known as the new year of the trees, and the idea is to determine the age of the fruits of the Land of Israel. "Rosh Hashanah of the trees" - known as Tu Bishvat, marks the start of the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.
It is customary on this day to eat the fruits of the Land of Israel, especially the fruits of the Seven Species - the kinds that are singled out by the Torah such as grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates.
Nowadays in Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.
The name of the holiday:
The name Tu BiShvat is derived from the Hebrew date of the holiday.
The holiday occurs on the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month Shevat. "Tu" (ט״ו) stands for the Hebrew letters Tet and Vav, which gives us the numerical value of 9 and 6 - together 15.
That is why we also call this holiday "hamisha asar bishvat" (חִמְּשָׁהּ עֶשֶׂר בִּשְׁבָט), which means "Fifteenth of Shevat".
Customs:
1. Eating fruit:
Eating the fruits of the land of Israel, and especially the seven species in which the land of Israel was praised
We eat mostly fruits in order to praise good - who created all these species of fruits.
The blessings recited on this holiday:
Blessing on the fruits:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ
Baruch atah Adonay, Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam bore pri haaitz
Blessed are You, our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
Blessing on Wheat or barley:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי מְזוֹנוֹת
Baruch atah Adonay, Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam bore miney mezonot
Blessed are You, our God, King of the universe, who creates sorts of foods
Blessing on vine:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן
Baruch atah Adonay, Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam bore pri hagefen
Blessed are You, our God, King of the universe Creator of the fruit of the vine
Blessing on the fruit of the earth:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה
Baruch atah Adonay, Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam bore pri haadama
Blessed are You, our God, King of the universe Creator of the fruit of the earth
Blessing on any other food that is now a plant (fruit of vegetable):
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיָה בִּדְבָרוֹ
Baruch atah Adonay, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam shehakol nihiya bedvaro
blessed are You, our God, King of the universe that everything becomes as he says.
2. Tu B'Shvat seder:
A festive ceremony, often accompanied by a meal featuring fruits
3. Planting in the Land of Israel - נְטִיעוֹת בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל netiot beeretz Israel
Major tree-planting events are scheduled in large forests every Tu BiShvat. Over a million Israelis take part in the tree-planting activities.
The idea is keeping the idea of Tu Bishvat marking the revival of nature.
Nature Conservation Day- יוֹם שְׁמִירַת הַטֶּבַע yom shmirat hateva
At the beginning of the 21st century, Tu Bishvat also became an ecological landmark and engaged in both study and practice of ecological activity.
Bodies in Israel engaged in the protection of fauna and flora by declaring Tu Bishvat as a Nature Conservation holiday.