What is Tu B'Shevat?
The 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, known as Tu b'Shevat, is the New Year for Trees.
Why do trees celebrate their New Year so much later than ours? It has to do with the rainy season in Israel, which starts on the festival of Sukkot. It takes four months for the rains to saturate the soil, nurture the trees and coax them into producing fruit. This is important to know if you are planning to give your tithes (different charities and gifts) of fruits, as we did in Temple times, because the required tithes changed from year to year.
We humans can also celebrate along with the trees. After all, the Torah says, "Man is a tree of the field." We are nurtured by deep roots, as far back as Abraham and Sarah; we reach upwards to the heavens while standing firmly on the ground; and when we do all this right, we produce fruits that benefit the world—namely our good deeds.
Traditional Observances:
Eat some fruit on this day. Best if you can get some of those fruits for which Israel is famous: olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates.
The blessing on fruit:
Baruch Atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech ha'Olam borei pri ha-etz.
[Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.]
Why do trees celebrate their New Year so much later than ours? It has to do with the rainy season in Israel, which starts on the festival of Sukkot. It takes four months for the rains to saturate the soil, nurture the trees and coax them into producing fruit. This is important to know if you are planning to give your tithes (different charities and gifts) of fruits, as we did in Temple times, because the required tithes changed from year to year.
We humans can also celebrate along with the trees. After all, the Torah says, "Man is a tree of the field." We are nurtured by deep roots, as far back as Abraham and Sarah; we reach upwards to the heavens while standing firmly on the ground; and when we do all this right, we produce fruits that benefit the world—namely our good deeds.
Traditional Observances:
Eat some fruit on this day. Best if you can get some of those fruits for which Israel is famous: olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates.
The blessing on fruit:
Baruch Atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech ha'Olam borei pri ha-etz.
[Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.]
Make
the snowman face by using a black marker to draw on eyes, eyebrows, and
a mouth. Glue the orange toothpick piece between the eyes and the
mouth.
Place
a piece of wax paper on the work surface. Glue the blue toothpick to
the back of the craft stick, about 2.5" down from the top. Leave about
2/3 of the toothpick visible. Cut a piece of white paper, about 2"x3"
(approximately) and fold in half. On one half, use a black marker to
write "BRRR!" Line the inside with a glue stick and fold it around the
blue toothpick to create the sign.
Starting
at the bottom of the craft stick, use the red glitter glue to create a
"ball" of mercury, then draw a line halfway up the stick.
