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Category: Identity Celebrations

A Planting from the Heart

The Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat is celebrated on the 15th day of the Hebrew month, Shevat. It is a time of festive celebration and demonstration of appreciation for the land of Israel, the environment and the Creation of God.

It is also known as the "New Year for Trees," because it was the day set by the Rabbinical authorities by which to record and estimate tithing of crops and fruit. Those who live in Israel plant trees to commemorate their observance of this holiday. This year Tu B’Shevat falls on a Shabbat, the 22nd of January 2000, so tree planting will be scheduled for the Friday before or the next day, Sunday. Some of my fondest memories are of my young children coming home from kindergarten with sapling trees or bushes and excitedly rushing out to the park to root their own contribution to the reblossoming of our Land.

The Promise of Life

In addition to being a teaching tool for our children regarding love and involvement with the Land, this holiday is a wonderful way to recognize our dependence on God for physical provision in the coming spring harvest. Although not Biblically ordained, historical records indicate that Jews, even during Temple times, acknowledged this day as a time to re–connect with the natural cycle of the year and consider how their own lives related to, and were affected by, the agricultural calendar. As the beginning of the agricultural calendar, this time of planting and rejoicing in the seed–birth of harvest foods draws our attention to God’s eternal creative acts on the earth, especially those acts that are not readily seen, but are in seed form.

It is interesting to note that the Torah itself is referred to as "the Tree of Life for those who hold fast to it" (Proverbs 3:18). As we bend our knee to the Creator of the world, and place a fragile sapling in the ground for nourishment, we become aware of the importance of our being planted and fi...

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© 2009 First Fruits of Zion. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share this material with your friends for further personal study. However, This material may not be republished, in print, electronically, or any other form without our prior permission. Adapted from Bikurei Tziyon #62 .

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