Tu B’Shvat – The New Year of the Trees (15th of Sh’vat)
- Anita Askren
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
What exactly is Tu B’Shvat?
If you do a quick Google search, you may find an explanation similar to this one from the Boston Public Library (bpl.org):
“Tu BiShvat (Tu B’Shevat, Tu Bishvat) is the Jewish New Year for trees. It occurs on the 15th day of the month of Sh’vat in the Jewish calendar.”
In simple terms, Tu B’Shvat is a designated time for counting the age of fruit trees—almost like a collective birthday for trees. This makes it easier to determine a tree’s year without having to remember the exact date it was planted.
According to Torah, fruit from a newly planted tree is not to be eaten for the first three years. In the fourth year, the fruit is set apart as holy, and only in the fifth year may it be eaten freely, as described in Leviticus 19:23–25:
When you enter the land and plant all kinds of fruit trees, you are to regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years it will be forbidden to you and not eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, for praising Adonai. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, so that it will produce even more for you; I am Adonai your God.
Tu B’Shvat also serves as a yearly marker related to the sabbatical year (Sh’mitah), when the land itself is given rest and neither planting nor harvesting takes place (see Leviticus 25).
It is important to note that these agricultural laws apply specifically to the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel), as the Torah clearly states: “When you enter the land…”
How Is Tu B’Shvat Celebrated?
Customs vary. Some people plant a tree, others feed birds, and some observe a Tu B’Shvat seder meal. These traditions help us remember the importance of gratitude for provision and remind us of spiritual renewal, a kind of resurrection from the dormancy of winter into the fullness of life in spring.
Scripture often compares human beings to trees. Psalm 1 beautifully describes this imagery:
How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand in the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit! Their delight is in Adonai’s Torah; on His Torah they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, and everything they do succeeds.
Jeremiah 17:5–8 further contrasts two kinds of lives:
“Cursed is the person who trusts in humans, who relies on merely human strength, whose heart turns away from Adonai. He will be like a shrub in the desert… Blessed is the one who trusts in Adonai,whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
We are faced with a choice. We can rely on human strength and remain spiritually barren, like a shrub in dry places. Or we can be planted firmly in the Word of G-d, nourished by deep roots, continually watered, and bearing much fruit. The Torah itself is often referred to as a Tree of Life, as described in Proverbs 3, where wisdom/Torah is portrayed as life-giving and sustaining.
Tu B’Shvat in Modern Israel
In modern Israel, Tu B’Shvat is considered a minor holiday, yet it is still widely recognized and warmly celebrated. Many workplaces and schools mark the day by handing out small gift baskets of dried fruits and nuts, the same foods traditionally used in a Tu B’Shvat seder. Special recipes featuring the fruits of the land are often prepared, and the day carries a quiet sense of joy and renewal.
One of the most beloved customs is planting a tree or small plant in honor of the day, reflecting both Israel’s connection to the land and the ongoing work of restoration and growth. Even in a largely secular society Tu B’Shvat remains a meaningful reminder of Israel’s deep relationship with the soil, the seasons, and the promise of life renewed.
The Seven Species of the Land
Tu B’Shvat is also connected to the seven species that are spiritually and symbolically linked to the Land of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:8). According to the Fellowship of Israel-Related Ministries (firmisrael.org), these include:
Wheat – The Bread of Life
Barley – The Humble Harvest
Grapes (Wine) – Joy and Redemption
Figs – Peace and Prosperity
Pomegranates – Righteousness
Olives (Oil) – Anointing and Light
Dates (Date Honey) – The Sweetness of the Land
A Closing Reflection
As we continue to grow in our understanding of Torah and the significance, symbolism, and spirit behind the traditions of Israel may we also see how deeply they connect us to the Messiah of Israel. In this season of global upheaval, let us not be afraid to stand with Israel. May we be the oaks of righteousness spoken of in Isaiah 61, trees that bless rather than curse, that build rather than tear down. As you reflect on Tu B’Shvat, perhaps for the first time, may you find the fruit of the Spirit growing and overflowing in your life, in the merit of our Messiah Yeshua.
Additional Resources
For more information:
For an easy Messianic Tu B’Shvat seder: