Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat, marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.

We mark the day of Tu B’Shevat by eating fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. On this day we remember that “man is a tree of the field” and reflect on the lessons we can derive from our botanical analogue.

If tasting any of these fruit for the first time this season, remember to recite the Shehecheyanu blessing. (A blessing recited on joyous occasions, thanking G-d for "sustaining us and enabling us to reach this occasion." This blessing is recited before the standard "Ha'etz" blessing recited on fruit).

Due to the festive nature of the day, we omit the Tachanun sections (petitions for forgiveness and confession) from the prayers.

Join Us

Tu B'Shevat encourages us to eat and learn about the produce of the Land of Israel, and to focus on sustainability and responsibility to the environment. Fill up your JNF boxes, help plant a tree in Israel, and participate in our Tu B'Shevat Seder. The Shabbat closest to Tu B'Shehvat is always Shabbat Shira, "the Shabbat of Song." Join Cantor Spiro and the Beth Tzedec Singers for special musical services featuring a sermon-in-song by a guest Musical Scholar-in-Residence. Following the conclusion of Shabbat Shira, we present our annual Community Concert.