The Jewish Earth Day
Tu B’ShevatMonday, February 9th, is Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish new year of the trees. The name of this holiday is actually its date: “Tu” is a pronunciation of the Hebrew letters for the number 15, and it falls in the Hebrew month of Shevat.In ancient times, Jewish farmers relied on Tu B’Shevat to determine when they were permitted, under Jewish law, to receive the fruits of their harvests. The Torah states, “When you enter the land [of Israel] and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden for you, not to be eaten.” (Leviticus 19:23). The law required that the fruit of the fourth year be offered in gratitude to the priests of the Temple. The fruit of the fifth year, and all years following, was finally for the farmer. This law raised the need to mark the “birthday” of…