Tu B'Shevat 5786
ט״ו בשבט תשפ״ו
The New Year of the Trees - A celebration of nature, growth, and our connection to the Land of Israel
"For a person is like a tree of the field" (Deuteronomy 20:19) - On Tu B'Shevat, we celebrate not only the trees, but the spiritual growth within ourselves.
Tu B'Shevat 5786
Gregorian Date
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Hebrew Date
15 Shevat 5786
Hebrew
ט״ו בשבט תשפ״ו
Tu B'Shevat, the 15th of Shevat, marks the "New Year of the Trees" in the Jewish calendar. While winter still grips much of the Northern Hemisphere, in Israel the earliest-blooming trees begin to awaken from their winter sleep, and the sap starts to rise.
This date has halachic significance for determining the age of trees for the laws of orlah (the prohibition against eating fruit from trees less than three years old) and for tithing fruits.
However, according to its inner Kabbalistic meaning, Tu B'Shevat holds monumental importance among Jewish holidays. It symbolizes choosing an environment, planting ourselves in it, investing in it, and nurturing the means that can help us grow toward greater spiritual connection.
"For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land... a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey."
— Deuteronomy 8:7-8
"The person is called a tree of the field, and Rosh HaShanah is the time of judgment, for better or for worse... So on Tu BiShvat, which is called the New Year for Trees, we must be strengthened with the quality of kindness, because for this we merit fruit, which is called 'a tree bearing fruit.'"
— Rabbi Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag, Dargot HaSulam
The Tree of the Sefirot
The Kabbalists envisioned G-d's emanations (the Sefirot) connected in an organic pattern they called 'The Tree of Life' (Etz Chaim). This mystical tree has its roots in heaven and its fruitfulness on earth, representing the flow of divine energy into our world.
A Person is Like a Tree
The Torah states 'Ki ha'adam etz hasadeh' - 'For a person is like a tree of the field' (Deut. 20:19). Just as a tree draws nourishment from the earth and reaches toward the sun, we draw from our physical experiences while aspiring toward spiritual heights. Our 'fruits' are our good deeds and positive influence on others.
The Trees of Eden
The Kabbalists gave enormous importance to the Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge in Gan Eden. Proverbs equates the 'tree of life' with Wisdom (Chochmah) - perhaps with Torah itself, perhaps with an aspect of Divinity. Tu B'Shevat is a time to reconnect with these primordial trees.
Spiritual Growth
According to Kabbalah, our spiritual journey mirrors the growth of a tree. First we develop roots (faith and commitment), then a trunk (character traits), branches (our reach into the world), and finally fruit (the positive impact we have on others). Tu B'Shevat celebrates this growth.
After the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, an extraordinary community of creative Kabbalists resettled in the tiny town of Tzfat (Safed) in the Galilee region of the Land of Israel. Living close to the land, their mystical sense of G-d's Presence became charged with earthiness.
From these mystics emerged the Tu B'Shevat Seder we celebrate today. They created new forms of celebration that viewed the land and rhythms of nature in profound spiritual ways. The seder was built around fruits, nuts, and wines of different colors - edible symbols of the Four Worlds and invocations of G-d's holy shefa (abundance).
Key figures included Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Arizal), Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, and Rabbi Chaim Vital, who transformed Tu B'Shevat from a simple agricultural marker into a profound mystical experience.
Did you know? The Tu B'Shevat Seder was first recorded in the work "Pri Etz Hadar" (Fruit of the Goodly Tree), a mystical text from the Tzfat Kabbalists that describes the spiritual significance of eating different fruits in a specific order.
Eat Fruits
אכילת פירות
Eat fruits, especially those from the Land of Israel. Try to eat 15 different fruits!
Tu B'Shevat Seder
סדר ט״ו בשבט
Conduct a special seder with four cups of wine and fruits from different categories.
Plant Trees
נטיעת עצים
Plant a tree or donate to plant trees in Israel through organizations like JNF.
Study Torah
לימוד תורה
Study passages about trees, agriculture, and the Land of Israel.
Recite Nishmat
נשמת כל חי
Many have the custom to recite Nishmat Kol Chai (The Soul of Every Living Thing) on Tu B'Shevat.
Eat an Etrog
אכילת אתרוג
The holy Rabbi of Peshischa taught that eating an etrog (even dried) on Tu B'Shevat is a segulah for long life.
The Land of Israel is praised for its seven species. It's customary to eat these on Tu B'Shevat:
Wheat
חיטה
Mezonot
Barley
שעורה
Mezonot
Grapes
גפן
Ha'etz / Hagafen
Figs
תאנה
Ha'etz
Pomegranates
רימון
Ha'etz
Olives
זית
Ha'etz
Dates
דבש (תמר)
Ha'etz
Tu B'Shevat is considered an auspicious time for prayer, particularly for matters of sustenance (parnasa), health, and spiritual growth. Many communities have special customs and prayers for this day.
Nishmat Kol Chai
Many have the custom to recite the beautiful prayer "Nishmat Kol Chai" (The Soul of Every Living Thing) on Tu B'Shevat, connecting with the life force present in all of creation.
נִשְׁמַת כָּל חַי תְּבָרֵךְ אֶת שִׁמְךָ
Segulah: Eating an Etrog
The holy Rabbi of Peshischa taught that eating an etrog on Tu B'Shevat - even a dried one preserved from Sukkot - is a segulah (spiritual remedy) for long life and for an easy childbirth.
Prayers for Sustenance
Tu B'Shevat is considered an especially auspicious time to pray for parnasa (livelihood) and material needs. Just as trees receive their sustenance from deep roots, we ask G-d to provide for our needs.
Tu B'Shevat Tikun
A special mystical order called "Tikun Tu B'Shevat" is recited, containing verses, blessings, and meditations associated with different fruits. This practice originates from the Kabbalists of Tzfat.
The Fruit of Our Spiritual Work
According to Kabbalah, the fruits we eat on Tu B'Shevat represent the fruit of our spiritual labor. Just as a tree's fruit contains seeds for future trees, our mitzvot and good deeds have the power to generate endless positive effects in the world. When we eat fruit mindfully on Tu B'Shevat, we connect with this cycle of spiritual growth and renewal.
Tu B'Shevat Today: A Universal Message
Tu B'Shevat has become a day to reflect on our responsibility to care for the environment. Many communities use this holiday to raise awareness about environmental issues and our obligation as stewards of G-d's creation.
The seed we plant in the soil symbolizes the great potential that dwells in our connections. This seed will germinate and grow into a life-giving tree, bearing fruit that nourishes future generations. Tu B'Shevat reminds us that with proper care and nurturing, even the smallest beginning can grow into something magnificent.