Tu BiShvat 2023 (Israel): Date, History and Tree Facts

The Jewish festival of Tu BiShvat occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. This year, the date of Tu BiShvat is February 6. Ecologists, youngsters, and anybody who cares about plants and the future of the earth celebrate a day of ecological awareness by planting trees in modern Israel. Although it’s not an official holiday, Jews take satisfaction in celebrating a day dedicated to the plants that sustain life.

HISTORY OF TU BISHVAT

The origin of the name ‘Tu BiShvat’ is the Hebrew date of the holiday. The holiday traditionally occurs on the 15th day of Shevat. “Tu” represents the Hebrew characters Tet and Vav, which have numerical values of nine and six, respectively, adding up to 15. Tu BiShvat is also known as the 15th of Shevat or Hamisha Asar BiShvat.

As described in the Mishnah, Tu BiShvat was celebrated with a feast during the Middle Ages. In the 16th century, the originator of modern Kabbalah, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed, developed a seder for Tu BiShvat that gave the fruits and trees of Israel symbolic importance. He instructed his pupils that all living things may attain spiritual perfection by consuming 10 fruits, four cups of wine, and repeating the necessary blessings in a certain order.

In Israel, devout and secular Jews continue to observe the kabbalistic seder of Tu BiShvat. Some Hasidic Jews harvest citrus fruits during Sukkot and consume them on Tu BiShvat. Some pray that the coming Sukkot will be filled with delicious and healthful fruits. Additionally referred to as Israeli Arbor Day by international media, environmental organisations have utilised the holiday to promote their awareness activities. Tu BiShvat is observed as an agricultural holiday in Israeli kibbutzim.

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FIVE TREE FACTS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

• Patients who can view trees from their hospital rooms recover more quickly than those who cannot.
• DNA analysis indicates that the group discovered in Utah, United States, is roughly 80,000 years old.
• The primary stalk of a banana tree is fibrous and is supported by internal water pressure.
• Every year, around 16 billion trees are lost due to deforestation and land usage.
• A tree can consume approximately 2000 litres of natural H2O annually.

TU BISHVAT DATES

Year	Date	Day
2022	January 16	Sunday
2023	February 6	Monday
2024	February 6	Tuesday
2025	February 6	Thursday
2026	February 6	Friday