Tu b'Shevat — The Spiritual Meaning of the “New Year for Trees”

“There are four New Years. On the first of Nisan is the New Year for kings and for festivals. On the first of Elul is the New Year for animal tithes — Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Shimon say, on the first of Tishrei. On the first of Tishrei is the New Year for years, Sabbatical cycles and Jubilees, for planting and for vegetables. On the first of Shvat is the New Year for the tree, according to Beit Shammai; Beit Hillel say, on the fifteenth of it.” (Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1)

What Is Tu B'Shvat?

Tu B'Shvat is not mentioned in the Torah, but rather, it appears in the Mishnah and Talmud. It marks a new beginning and is known as the New Year for Trees. According to the Sages, this date represents the point at which the fruit of the tree begins its new yearly cycle.

Rashi explains: “Most of the rainy season has already passed, the sap has risen in the trees, and the fruits begin to form from now.”

The Jerusalem Talmud states: “Until this point, the trees are sustained by last year’s water; from now on, they are sustained by the coming year’s water.”

This day establishes the natural agricultural year of the tree. Any fruit that begins to grow after Tu B'Shvat belongs to the new year’s crop.

Why Is Tu B'Shvat Halachically Important?

Its primary relevance is for the mitzvot dependent on the Land of Israel, including:

Orlah

During the first three years after a tree is planted, its fruit is prohibited for consumption and benefit — this fruit is called orlah. In the fourth year, the fruit is called netah reva’i and (when the Temple stood) was eaten by its owner in Jerusalem.

Tithes (Terumot & Ma’aserot)

Tu B'Shvat determines which year’s tithing cycle the fruit belongs to. One may not tithe from fruit of one year onto fruit of another — therefore the fifteenth of Shvat serves as the cutoff date for tree fruit.

How Is Tu B'Shvat Traditionally Observed?

Throughout Jewish communities, special prayers were recited. Among Ashkenazi Jews it became customary to:

• Eat fruits of the Land of Israel

• Recite Shehecheyanu on a new seasonal fruit

Rabbeinu Gershom ruled that one should not fast on Tu B'Shvat, and Rabbi Yosef Karo reinforced this ruling, and therefore Tachanun is not recited on this day.

The Tu BiShvat Seder — Mystical Roots in Safed

In the time of the Arizal, the kabbalists of Safed established a Tu B'Shvat Seder expressing the spiritual bond between humanity and the trees. The seder includes:

• Eating 30 types of fruits

• Reciting blessings and passages about trees and creation

• Drinking four cups of wine, symbolizing spiritual stages of the universe

The fruits are grouped into spiritual categories:

• 10 fruits with an outer shell and edible interior — World of Action

• 10 fruits with an inner pit — World of Creation

• 10 fruits with no shell or pit — World of Emanation

Dried fruits became common because historically they were the only way fruits from Eretz Yisrael could be transported overseas.

Many enhance the day by seeking a new fruit, saying Shehecheyanu, and adorning the table with fruits of the Land of Israel.

The Baal Shem Tov taught that eating a fruit is never random, for within each fruit resides a spark awaiting elevation through a sincere blessing.

Tu B'Shvat as a Day of Prayer and Spiritual Renewal

Tu B'Shvat is seen as a time of heavenly judgment for the trees — and since “man is like the tree of the field,” it is also a day suited for prayer.

People traditionally pray for:

• Livelihood and sustenance

• Healing of body and soul

• Spiritual growth and renewal

From Yerenenu Atzei HaYa’ar: “If people knew the greatness of this day and what can be achieved through it, they would spend it in prayer for healing, livelihood, and spiritual rectification.”

A Special Time for Finding One’s Marriage Partner

According to kabbalistic teachings, Tu B'Shvat — like Tu B’Av — is connected to the Sefirah of Yesod, associated with bonding, fertility, and relationships. Rabbi Batzri even conducts a special tikkun for shidduchim on this day.

Spiritual Intentions for Eating Fruits (Teachings of Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi)

• Fruits edible inside & outside → Pray to be sincere “inside and out”

• Fruits with large pits → Ask to remove negativity from within us

• Fruits with inedible peels → Pray to judge others favorably

Blessings as spiritual intentions:

• Mezonot → Livelihood

• Gafen → Marriage / harmony

• Ha’etz → Wise and righteous children

• Ha’adama → Health

• Shehakol → Joy

Specific symbolic fruits:

• Fig → Patience

• Pomegranate → Guarding speech

• Olive → Righteous children

• Date → Health and strength