Tu B'Shvat

Originally just the day when trees were considered a year older, relevant in the ancient world for tithing purposes—Tu B’Shevat was transformed by the kabbalists of Safed into a celebration of nature, its fruits, and the Divine “tree” reaching toward us. At Tu B’Shevat seders (the four cups of wine borrowed loosely from the Passover seder), revitalized in modern times and inspired with an environmental consciousness, we drink the fruit of the vine and eat many different kinds of fruit from trees—from the tough hard walnut to the luscious pomegranate—evoking different aspects of the Divine and of humanity.

Latest Rituals

Vermont Apple Trees at Tu B’Shvat

“Let light / reach all the places where blossoms would wantonly erupt…”

nature, trees, tu b'shvat, winter

A snowy landscape with bare trees under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Woman Is a Tree of the Field

‘Woman Is a Tree of the Field’ is an original work of art inspired by trees in Jewish text and mystical tradition.

Jewish women, kabbalah, midrash, trees, tu b'shvat, women

Textile art of a female figure with fiery hair, twig arms, and plants on a brown fabric background.

Sacred Roots: A Tu B’Shvat Celebration

“May we grow like them, reaching high, growing true…”

almond trees, Seven species, trees, tu b'shvat

Pink cherry blossoms in the foreground with a blurred castle and green hills in the background under a clear blue sky.

The Trees of the Talmud

“Only advice to plant first / and welcome the Messiah later…”

generations, trees

brown carob pods hang from a green tree

New Year of the Trees

“In Shvat, we cross a threshold / into a mysterious realm / hidden within ourselves and the deep interior of trees…”

an arbor of trees

So They Say

“There is a tree somewhere, so they say. / And that tree has its roots in a culture / that spreads back millennia.”

A tree across from a lake against a dark starry night

Teshuvah: Recognizing Holiness

A special tree inspires a sacred moment.

God, holiness, trees

tree in shape of a heart

Prayer for Planting Native Plants

“May our planting cause multiple levels of life to abundantly flourish…”

seedling

Orchard’s Metaphysics

“temples of leaves / firmaments of roots”

orchard at dawn

An Embodiment Ritual for Planting the First Seeds of the Season

A ritual for the holy work of seeding your garden or farm

earth, garden, tree planting, water

Hands holding small brown seeds, with a blurred background.