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Forest in summer; sun streaming in on tall, full leaf trees

What Tu BiShvat and Sam the Pickle Man Have in Common

Rabbi Sharon G. Forman

Even though “Crossing Delancy’s” Sam the Pickle Man and Tu BiShvat both are somewhat predictable, they also are filled with wisdom, poetry, hope, and faith.

Arms hugging the trunk of a tree with the hands coming together to form a heart shape in front of it

This Tu BiShvat, May We Begin with the Trees

Rabbi Emma Gottlieb

May each of us, at this Tu BiShvat – the New Year of the Trees – refuse to be complacent in accepting the ills and sorrows of our lives.

Bins of colorful dried fruit -- mango, banana, kiwi, pineapple -- in Jerusalem supermarket

How the Supermarket Reminds Me Tu BiShvat is Coming

Cantor Evan Kent

In my past life as a cantor in Los Angeles, I was always facilitating the concept of “Jewish time” for others. Here in Jerusalem, it just sort of happens on its own.

Roots and Branches of the New Year of the Trees

Rabbi Daniel Swartz

In college, being outdoors and celebrating the natural world was an important part of my spirituality, so I sought out hints that other Jews felt the same way.

Trees and Hope: A Tu BiShvat Reflection

The wind and the smell of smoke woke us. We stumbled out of bed, joining neighbors in the cul-de-sac to stare at the red glow lighting up the hills behind our houses.

Tu BiShvat Fruit and Nut Cups

This dish pays homage to the Seven Species, which we eat on Tu BiShvat.

Wake-Up Chocolate Fruit Kicks

Recipe by

Deborah R. Prinz

These energizing chocolate chunks have a kick to them!

Chocolate cookies for the Jewish Holiday of Tu BiSh'vat

Chocolate Chip Mystery Mandelbrot

Recipe by

Tina Wasserman

Mandelbrot means “almond bread” in Yiddish, but its origins are the biscotti cookies that were created in Italy more than 700 years ago. This recipe is featured in Tina Wasserman's book, Entree to Judaism for Families filled with tools to help children learn to cook with confidence, with clear, step-by-step instructions for every recipe and tips for adults to make the experience safe and rewarding.

A Tu BiShvat Seder Guide for Kids

“Happy birthday to trees! Happy birthday to trees!” Yes, that’s Lila from Shaboom! singing and tree-hugging to kick off a short lesson about Tu BiShvat.

Tu BiShvat: Customs and Rituals

The Jewish mystics of the 17th century, the Kabbalists, created a special ritual—modeled after the Passover seder—to celebrate God's presence in nature. Today in modern Israel, Tu BiShvat has become a national holiday, a tree planting festivaTu BiShvat is not mentioned in the Torah. Scholars believe the holiday was originally an agricultural festival, corresponding to the beginning of spring in Israel. But a critical historical event helped Tu BiShvat evolve from a simple celebration of spring to a commemoration of our connection to the land of Israel. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. and the exile that followed, many of the exiled Jews felt a need to bind themselves symbolically to their former homeland. Tu BiShvat served in part to fill that spiritual need. Jews used this time each year to eat a variety of fruits and nuts that could be obtained from Israel. The practice, a sort of physical association with the land, continued for many centuries.l for both Israelis and Jews throughout the world