Monday marks Tu B’Shevat — the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat, which is known as “the New Year for Trees.” It is the time of year when the earliest-blooming trees in the land of Israel start to flower. It is the custom to reflect on our relationship with nature and to enjoy fruit, especially the olives, dates, grapes, figs, and pomegranates that are named in the Torah.
At JHE we mark the holiday — as we did in past years — with photos that show how images of fruit and trees figure in to Jewish decorative art: in synagogues, on gravestones, and as part of ritual objects.
Trees can serve as symbols for life — with trees that are cut representing death. Pairs of Torah scroll ornaments are called rimmonim — meaning pomegranates, as pomegranates are symbols of abundance, and figuratively of the Torah.
3 comments on “Photo essay: Trees and fruit for Tu B’Shevat”
The Best ever commemoration of historical places in connection with traditional celebration of the new year of trees and symbolic meaning of fruits ,dates leaves, pomegranates and other meaningful features in sacred monuments of Jewish people without borders. Thank you very much !
Thanks!
I love the idea of a broken tree representing the person who has passed away. We are very much the people of the trees , for us a tree of life is so important, we have yeshivah and schools named in that manner!