The holiday Tu Bichvat, which marks the revival of nature, is celebrated by Jewish communities and in Israel with the planting of plants, along with prayers, but also many joyous songs
The holiday Tu BiShvat is defined in the Mishna as the « New Year of the Trees » because it’s the moment when the sap goes back upwards in the tree, just before spring.
In the Torah, the land of Israel is characteristic to have plenty of fruits: “a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey” (Devarim 8,8)
It is therefore a custom to eat on that day at least seven fruits species in a certain order (barley, date, grape, fig, pomegranate, olive and wheat) and to ban any form of restraint (no fasting or funeral eulogy…) that could ruin the celebration.
Under the impulse of kabbalists from Safed, and later of zionism, Tu BiShvat has become the symbol of renewal of the land of Israel.
Read the feature article about the songs of Tu Bishvat, with videos, on KefIsraël website
Listen to the playlist Tu Bishvat 2
