Tu Bishvat, traditionally known as the birthday of
the trees, is a time to think about relating to the natural world. This holiday
can be celebrated by planting trees, eating fruits, 
and having a Tu Bishvat Seder, a ritual that began with
the kabbalistic masters of the 15th century.
and having a Tu Bishvat Seder, a ritual that began with
the kabbalistic masters of the 15th century.
Tu Bishvat, or the "birthday" of all fruit trees, is
a minor festival seemingly tailor-made for today's Jewish environmentalists. In
fact, there is an ancient midrash (rabbinic teaching) that states, "When God led
Adam around the Garden of Eden, God said, 'Look at My works. See how beautiful
they are, how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do
not spoil or destroy My world--for if you do, there will be no one to repair it
after you'" (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7.13).
But it was not always this way. In ancient times, it was merely a date on the calendar that helped Jewish farmers establish exactly when they should bring their fourth-year produce of fruit from recently planted trees to the Temple as first-fruit offerings. After this, all subsequent fruit produced from these trees could be eaten or sold as desired.
Tu Bishvat could easily have fallen into desuetude after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, since there was no longer a system of fruit offerings or Temple priests to receive them. However, the kabbalists (mystics) of Tzfat (the city of Safed) in the Land of Israel in the 16th century created a new ritual to celebrate Tu Bishvat called the Feast of Fruits.
But it was not always this way. In ancient times, it was merely a date on the calendar that helped Jewish farmers establish exactly when they should bring their fourth-year produce of fruit from recently planted trees to the Temple as first-fruit offerings. After this, all subsequent fruit produced from these trees could be eaten or sold as desired.
Tu Bishvat could easily have fallen into desuetude after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, since there was no longer a system of fruit offerings or Temple priests to receive them. However, the kabbalists (mystics) of Tzfat (the city of Safed) in the Land of Israel in the 16th century created a new ritual to celebrate Tu Bishvat called the Feast of Fruits.
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