Long Island's Oldest Reform Congregation
140 Central Avenue - Lawrence, NY 11559
(516) 239-1140
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Rosh Hashanah isn’t the only new year. Another new year in the Jewish calendar is the New Year of Trees, a holiday known as Tu B’Shevat, meaning the 15th day of the month of Shevat. This year, it falls on February 8. Tu B’Shevat marks the end of the winter and beginning of spring in Israel. The holiday is rooted in ancient times, when the early Hebrews thought of it as the day that sap began to flow again from trees. During those times, the holiday’s festivities focused on joyously planting saplings. Over the years, Tu B’Shevat has evolved into a holiday rich with special traditions. These include planting trees in Israel in honor of a person or occasion or in memory of a loved one. The holiday is also the time to grow parsley, so that it will be ready for the Passover Seder . Another custom includes eating grains and fruits native to Israel, as in apples, sunflower seeds, lemons, raisins, bananas, figs, carob, peanuts, almonds and dates. Together, the first letter of each of these ten fruits in Hebrew spells Tishbachat Batzalachat, which translates into “the best in a plate.” These days, many families hold a Tu B’Shevat Seder, a Practice initiated during the 16th Century by Jewish mystics in Safed, Israel, which resembles the structure of the Passover Seder. During the Seder, which traditionally occurs in the early evening on the day of the holiday, four cups of wine are poured. The first glass consists of white wine to symbolize the white of winter’s snow; the second cup, which features three-quarters of white wine and one-quarter of red wine, marks the beginning of spring; the third cup is divided in half between red and white wine; and the last cup, filled entirely with red wine, symbolically welcomes the arrival of the new season. The fruits and grains of Tishbachat Batzalachat are blessed and eaten. |
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