Tu BiShvat

Tu BiShvat is designated in the Mishnah as the New Year for Trees — a determining date for tithes and offerings from the fruit of trees. Fruit that ripened before Tu BiShvat is considered the produce of the previous year, and fruit that ripened after it belongs to the new year.

Over the generations, Tu BiShvat became a day of love for the Land of Israel and connection to its fruits. In the 16th century, in Safed, the city's kabbalists established a special order for this day, similar to the Passover seder, in which fruits of the Land are eaten and songs of praise are sung. In our times, it is customary to plant trees on Tu BiShvat and to celebrate the connection to nature and to the Land of Israel.

• Eating fruits of the Land — including the Seven Species (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates).
• Tu BiShvat Seder — a kabbalistic order of eating fruits and drinking wine, including Psalms and words of Torah.
• Planting trees — a custom strengthened in our times, especially in Israel.
• Reciting the Shehecheyanu blessing on a new fruit.

Tu BiShvat is not a festival, and there is no prohibition of labor. Its main laws concern tithes and offerings — determining the tithing year for the fruit of trees. Tachanun is not recited on Tu BiShvat, and some do not recite penitential prayers on it.

There are no special prayers on Tu BiShvat, but Tachanun is not recited. Some recite additional Psalms. In the kabbalistic Tu BiShvat seder, passages from the Torah and the Zohar relating to fruits and trees are read.