Tu B'Shevat -

Although we are all familiar with the Rosh HaShanah, the "Head of the Year," which occurs in the Fall, there are actually four Rosh HaShanah's which define, to an extent, the Hebrew calendar.

The Tu B'Shevat Seder

One of the best ways to make the holiday feel as real as possible is to hold a Tu b' Shevat seder, a ceremony celebrating the fruits of Israel, adapted from the Passover seder. The Tu b'Shevat seder, once a kabbalistic ritual, combines both the tangible and mystical as it honors the most wondrous of birthdays - the Earth's.

Shiv'at Ha-Minim - The Seven Species

These seven species are customarily eaten on Tu Bishvat, the Jewish "New Year for Trees", on Sukkot, the "Festival of Booths", and on Shavuot, the "Festival of Weeks".

Trees and Man

The Chumash does not explicitly address the Darwinian conception of the relationship between Man and the Trees, in terms of an ancient ancestor of Man living in them.

The Significance of Tu B'Shvat

When we speak of Tu B'Shvat, the New Year for trees, thoughts of joyous tunes, tree planting ceremonies and the consumption of fruit come to mind. Certainly it is a day that we all look forward to.

Trees in the Jewish Sources

Trees have been viewed both as an existential value and a symbol since the Jewish tribes approached the Land of Israel: "When you shall come to the Land, you shall plant all types of trees" (Leviticus 19:2-3).

Tu B'shvat: Promise of Renewal

Tu B'Shvat has always been one of the most beloved minor Jewish holidays. It is a celebration of the relationship of God with His people as expressed by the blessings thatHe bestowed on the land.

Fruit for the Soul

On Tu B'Shvat, the New Year for trees, it is a time-honored custom for Jews the world over to eat the fruits of the Holy Land. What is the significance of this tradition and what are its metaphysical roots?

Secrets of Tu B'shevat

T"U B'Shvat, the fifteenth of the month of Shvat, is the New Year of the Trees according to the Mishnah in Massechet "Rosh Hashanah" where there is a dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai concerning the exact date (By: Rav Avraham Brandwein).