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Tu BiShvat Activities to Do at Home
The Jewish New Year of the Trees, or Tu BiSh’vat, lends itself to many home observations and activities. Here are some ideas for crafts, planting, quiet activities, and more.
Tu BiShvat
Tu BiShvat or the "New Year of the Trees" is Jewish Arbor Day.
Tu BiShvat's Origins
Tu BiShvat or the "New Year of the Trees" is Jewish Arbor Day. The holiday is observed on the 15th (tu) of the Hebrew month of Shvat. Scholars believe that originally Tu BiShvat was an agricultural festival, marking the emergence of spring. In the 17th century, Kabbalists created a ritual for Tu BiShvat that is similar to a Passover . Today, many Jews hold a modern version of the Tu BiShvat seder each year. The holiday also has become a tree-planting festival in Israel, in which Israelis and Jews around the world plant trees in honor or in memory of loved ones and friends.
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Tasty Recipes for Tu BiShvat, a.k.a Jewish Arbor Day
On Jewish Arbor Day, a.k.a. Tu BiShvat, it’s customary to eat the fruits and nuts that grow on trees in Israel. Try these fruity and nutty recipes on their own or as part of a Tu BiShvat seder.
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Tu BiShvat Tale: Honi Comes Full Circle for the Jewish Birthday of the Trees
Straight from the Talmud (the many-volume encyclopedia of Jewish law and discussions about it), Bim Bam brings you...Honi the Circle Maker! Watch this and other engaging videos about Tu BiShvat.
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How Much Do You Know About Tu BiShvat?
How much do you know about the Jewish holiday of Tu BiSvhat? Take this quiz, if you are up to the challenge.
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What's New
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Tu BiShvat - Nature’s Invitation to Grow
Tu BiShvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, is upon us. While it may not be the most celebrated new year in the Jewish tradition, there is a simple power to the holiday - the call for us to become attuned to nature and learn what it can teach us about personal growth.
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Taking a Breath for Life: the Union for Reform Judaism's Actions to Build Resilience
On Tu Bishvat we celebrated trees and a season of new growth. I've been doing lots of thinking about trees, as I frequently do, and the role they play in providing oxygen for the planet. At the Union of Reform Judaism, we provide oxygen to our communities by creating compassionate spaces for our participants to grow and thrive. We can respond to current and future challenges by fostering resilience that reflect our Jewish values.
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“Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children”
The upcoming holiday of Tu BiShvat -- the birthday of the trees - brings back a memory of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. In the museum is an enormous cross-section of a giant sequoia tree. Standing before it is a sublime experience. The cross-section overwhelms you with its sheer size, inspiring questions about the size of the tree it was cut from.
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Have a Tu BiShvat Seder
You may have heard of a Passover seder, but did you know that many people celebrate Tu BiShvat with seders also? Learn about how to host your own Tu BiShvat seder.
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Tu BiShvat Social Action Guide
Here are some ideas for incorporating social justice themes into your Tu BiShvat celebration.
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Jewish Values and the Environment
From the pressing global crisis of climate change to advocacy on clean water and food justice, we are heirs to a tradition of stewardship and partnership in the ongoing work of Creation that goes back to Genesis
Answers to Questions About Tu BiShvat
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Jewish Questions
- How can I celebrate Tu BiShvat at home?
- I am familiar with a Passover seder, but what is a Tu BiShvat seder?
- Why do Jewish Holidays Begin at Night?
- Why do we celebrate Tu BiShvat, the Jewish “New Year of the Trees,” in the middle of winter?
- Why is caring for the environment emphasized on Tu BiShvat?