By Moishe House Regional Jewish Educators and Ziva Swire, MHWOW Program Manager
What is Tu B’Shvat?
Tu B’Shvat is also known as “the New Year for the Trees.” It marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in Israel start their fruit-bearing cycles. “Tu B’Shvat” literally means “the 15th day of Shevat”—the date it takes place, so it’s easy to remember. This year, Tu B’Shvat begins at sundown on January 27th and ends at sundown on January 28th.
How to Celebrate in 2021?
There’s no one way to Tu B’Shvat, but whatever you do should connect to nature—whether you are hosting your event virtually, outdoors, or indoors! Virtual or in person Tu B’Shvat seders, outdoor hiking or yoga, learning about and advocating for pressing environmental justice issues, and reflecting on Jewish wisdom about nature are just a few examples of the program ideas and outlines to help you have a meaningful and communal Tu B’Shvat experience this year.
Program Ideas
Outdoor Hike & Learn
Hikes are a great in-person and socially distant way to appreciate nature’s beauty and each other, as well as get a breath of fresh air, which many of us could use right now. To add some Tu B’Shvat spice to your event, invite a knowledgeable flora- and tree-loving friend to join the hike and share some wisdom about the various plants and trees on the hike. You can also teach your community about the underground social life of trees and how they support even the fallen among them.
Tu B’Shvat Seder
One of the most popular ways to celebrate is by hosting a festive meal or seder (yes, like the one we do at Passover). The seder incorporates particular fruits and grains that are grown in Israel, called the seven species, to celebrate the start of the agricultural cycle of these foods.
We have created a Tasting Menu and Prayer Cards that will help guide you to lead and navigate through the seder. Remember you can use your budget for printing!
Letter-Writing to US Congress
Tu B’Shvat is also about protecting the long-term health of the planet. The Jewish Earth Alliance urges members of Congress to respond to the moral challenge of climate change through hand-written letter campaigns. They have an online briefing on the third Tuesday evening of every month, as well as a new action alert and sample letter each month. Learn more about the organization and invite your community to join the briefing and letter-writing campaign together!
Nature Poetry and Jewish Text
In the Mishna, we learn that Judaism has four New Years: the New Year for kings, the New Year for tithing, the New Year for years, and the New Year for trees (Tu B’Shvat!). Take a look at Aharon Mirsky’s poem below: “On Tu B’Shvat it is Written,” a poem in which Mirsky parallels the popular high holiday piyyut (liturgical poem) U’Netanah Tokef: “On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed…” Just as we contemplate our fates for the coming year on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, so too does nature brace herself for a year of unknowns on Tu B’Shvat. Gather virtually or in person to study Mirsky’s poem, and write some nature poetry of your own!
Possible Prompts:
Write about the changing seasons or your favorite season.
- Write about the lives of plants – what do they say? How do they feel?
- Write about what inspires you in nature.
- Write about experiences of the Divine in nature.
- Write about a particular memory you have in nature.
