The Charlotte Jewish News- February 2026- Page 20
Tu B’ Shvat: The New Year for Trees
By Helene Schilian
Tu B’ Shvat( which means the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat) marks the new year for the trees. In 2026, we will celebrate Tu B’ Shvat beginning on the evening of Monday, Feb. 1. Our ancient texts tell us there are four‘ New Years’ or‘ Rosh Hashanahs’:
• The 1st of Nissan marks the new year for kings and festivals( this is the day when we begin counting the new year of a king’ s reign and the beginning of the festival calendar.) Nissan is also the month when we celebrate Passover.
• The 1st of Elul marks the new year for the tithing of cattle( this is like‘ tax year’.)
• The 1st of Tishrei( what we call Rosh Hashana) marks the new year for the counting of years( the calendar), shemittah years, and the tithing of crops( and the day on which all humanity is judged by G-d).
• The 15th of Shvat begins the new year for trees.
Tu B’ Shvat became the date for calculating the beginning of the agricultural cycle for the purpose of biblical tithes and marks the beginning of the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in Israel, Shkaydiyah or almond trees, begin to bloom, signifying a new fruit-bearing cycle.
During the Middle Ages, it was customary to celebrate Tu B’ Shvat with a feast of fruits; and in the 16th century the Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Luria and his students instituted a Tu B’ Shvat Seder or in the image of the Pesach Seder in which the fruits and trees of the Land of Israel were all given symbolic meaning.
These customs have been renewed in modern Israel, and are widely celebrated by religious and secular alike, due to a deep connection to the land. It is also celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are often planted in commemoration. It is traditional to eat something from all of the seven species – wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates – all of which have a special significance in Judaism.
During a Tu B’ Shvat Seder, we express appreciation for nature and recognize the miracle of Hashem’ s role in creation. Like
Passover, the ritual includes four cups of wine that progress from white to rosé to red, symbolizing the changing seasons.
Celebrating Tu B’ Shvat with
Your Family Planting Together Celebrate with planting a tree! Don’ t have a spot at home? Reach out to local community gardens, parks or ask if your child’ s school would appreciate a new tree.
As you dig the soil and place a tiny tree into the ground, talk about the importance of growth, renewal, and the interconnectedness of all living things. If you would like to sponsor the planting of a tree in Israel, please visit www. JNF. org. Family Nature Walk Take a stroll through a nearby nature reserve or park, pausing to notice the changing seasons, identify different trees, and simply enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.
Encourage family members to share their thoughts on the wonders of nature and the importance of preserving it. If visiting a spot that you’ ve been to in the past year, try to notice new growth. Find a tree stump and count all the tree rings. Or simply discuss the various parts of a tree. Nature Arts and Crafts As a family, get creative by incorporating natural materials into arts and crafts. Collect leaves, twigs, and flowers during a nature walk, and use them to make Tu B’ Shvat-themed artwork. It’ s a fun way to express creativity while reinforcing the importance of our connection to the environment. Nature Scavenger Hunt Organize a Tu B’ Shvatthemed scavenger hunt in a park or your backyard. As a family, explore the outdoors and collect these items while discussing the importance of biodiversity and the interconnectedness of ecosystems.
Temple Kol Ami is a Reform Jewish congregation that was formed in the spring of 2010 to answer the needs of a growing and diverse Jewish community in the greater York County area. We are a warm, caring, and egalitarian community; cherishing tradition while yearning for expression in modernity. To learn more, please email yorksynagogue @ gmail. com or visit templekolamisc. org.