A seder in January? It may sound strange, but more and more families are marking Tu B'Shevat—often called the Jewish Arbor Day or the New Year of the Trees—by celebrating the joys of agriculture, Israel's bounty of produce, and, increasingly, responsible stewardship of the planet. Tu B'Shevat is ripe with opportunities to explore traditions that reconnect us with the fruits of the earth and their unique symbolism in Judaism. Phyllis Bieri and Marco Veissid invited friends to their Manhattan home for a Tu B'Shevat seder and feast. "We've been wanting to do this for years," says Phyllis, a passionate gardener who raises a cornucopia of organic fruits and vegetables at her family's second home in Fire Island, N.Y. "It's a great way to reconnect with nature, and a fun ritual the kids can get excited about."
What it Tu B'Shevat?
Tu B'Shevat has its roots in the ancient Jewish tradition of tithing—the practice of setting aside part of each year's crop for charity or sacrifices. Literally translated as "the 15th day of Shevat" (the Hebrew letters for "Tu" correspond to the number 15), Tu B'Shevat is referenced in the Mishnah (Jewish oral law) as the new year for trees, one of four new year celebrations on the Jewish calendar. Jews have long embraced Tu B'Shevat as a festive holiday to be marked with an abundance of fruits and agricultural symbols, along with the tradition of planting trees and celebrating biblical Israeli fruits. More recently, the holiday has been adopted by those interested in conservation and sustainable agriculture, through special readings and activities at the seder. It is also when some people plant fruits or vegetables to be used during future holidays in the Jewish life cycle, such as parsley for the Passover seder.
The Tu B'Shevat Seder
The Tu B'Shevat seder was introduced in the 17th century by the great kabbalistic Rabbi Isaac Luria in the city of Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism, in northern Israel. As in a Passover seder, four glasses of wine are drunk in a particular order (seder means "order" in Hebrew), a haggadah is followed, and questions are posed to participants. The traditional meal features the seven species of fruits grown in Israel—pomegranates, dates, olives, figs, barley, wheat, and grapes—as well as a host of other fruits imbued with kabbalistic symbolism, particularly carob. Nowadays, the seder is often customized to suit celebrants' interests, with topics ranging from Israel to the environment.
Blessings
Before eating the first fruit at the seder:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'Olam, bore pri ha-etz. Blessed are You, Sovereign of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the trees.
Before eating a fruit for the first time of the season:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'Olam, Shehecheyahnu vekiyimanu vehegianu lazman Hazeh. Blessed are You, Sovereign of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this moment.
