Tu B’Shvat

Tu B’Shvat has become known as the day when people plant trees. It is known in the Talmud as ראש השנה לאילנות, the birthday of the trees.

There are Halachic rules associated with the Fifteenth day of the month of Shvat. Specifically, this has to do with the laws of tithing that apply even today in Eretz Yisrael. The Land is on a seven year cycle, with the seventh year known as the Sabbatical year called “Shmita.” In addition to the annual tithes known as Teruma and Maaser, there is a secondary tithe offered on alternating years. In the first, second, fourth, and fifth year, Maaser Sheni is separated. In the third and sixth year, we offer Maaser Ani, for the poor. We are currently in the third year of the cycle.

There are three categories of produce that is harvested in the fields. The first category are the grains, such as wheat, rye, oats,spelt, and barley. If their growth was one third completed before this past Rosh Hashanah, their tithing applies to year two of the cycle. If they are not that developed, they apply to Maaser Ani of year three.

The second category of produce are vegetables. Their cut off point is also Rosh Hashanah, but is determined by when they are picked. If one had planted tomatoes, and picked some before Rosh Hashanah and some more after, the first batch would apply to year two, and the second batch, year three.

The third category of produce are fruit. Their cut off point is Tu B’Shvat. Fruit trees that had budded before this date, apply to year two, and fruit that budded after this date apply to year three.

Since this date is connected to fruit trees, the custom arose of planting trees to commemorate this mini holiday. My annual Tu B’Shvat joke is, “Good things come in trees!”