Trees on Tu B'Shvat
Without trees and the special part they play in nature, our world could not exist as it does today. Join Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman as he explores the world of trees in Tanach and why they are celebrated on Tu B’Shvat.
Trees on Tu B'Shvat: Trees on Tu B’Shvat
Hello Everyone,
The fifteenth day of the month of Shvat ( which will fall on February 6, 2023) is referred to as ראש השנה לאילנות- the “New Year of the Trees” in the Halachic literature. This “New Year” was originally not a celebration of trees. Rather in the Gemarah it was more of a demarcation. Tithes were calculated on the basis of when a tree blossomed . Fruits of one year may not be grouped with fruits of a different year for purposes of tithing, and the “tithing year” begins on the fifteenth day of Shvat (next week I hope to discuss how this date came to be chosen). But later on, especially among the circle of the Kabbalists and even later in the nascent Zionist movement the fifteenth day of Shvat became a minor holiday known by the acronym “Tu B’Shvat.”
Now that care for the environment is so critical Tu B’Shvat is perhaps an appropriate time to think about trees, deforestation and related subjects.
So today and next week we will talk about what the Halachic literature says about care for the environment.
Trees on Tu B'Shvat: Trees on Tu B’Shvat
Hello Everyone,
Since the subject of these two sessions is “Trees on Tu B’Shvat” I think that it would be worthwhile to discuss the Halachot regarding the cutting down of trees.
I hope that the session will be interesting and insightful.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.