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Tu B'Shavat
New Year for the Trees -- how to celebrate our connection to the environment and appreciate the fruits of the Land of Israel.
According to Biblical law, there is a seven year agricultural cycle, concluding with the Sabbatical year. When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, on years one, two, five and six of this cycle, farmers were required to separate a tenth of their produce and eat it in Jerusalem. This tithe is called Maaser Sheni, the Second Tithe, because it is in addition to the (two percent which must be given to the Kohain, and the) ten percent which is given to the Leviite. On the third and sixth years of the cycle, instead of the owners eating the Maaser Sheni in Jerusalem, they gave this second tithe to the poor, who were permitted to consume it wherever they wished.
On this day it is customary to partake of the fruit which the Holy Land is famous for (Deuteronomy 8:8): olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates. If you are tasting any of these fruit for the first time this season, remember to recite the Shehecheyanu (A blessing thanking G-d "for sustaining us and enabling us to reach this occasion") blessing.
“When you besiege a city for an extended period during a war against it, you shall not chop down the trees; you may eat from them, but not uproot them; for Man is the Tree of the Field . . .” D'varim (Deuteronomy) 20:19
According to Biblical law, there is a seven year agricultural cycle, concluding with the Sabbatical year. When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, on years one, two, five and six of this cycle, farmers were required to separate a tenth of their produce and eat it in Jerusalem. This tithe is called Maaser Sheni, the Second Tithe, because it is in addition to the (two percent which must be given to the Kohain, and the) ten percent which is given to the Leviite. On the third and sixth years of the cycle, instead of the owners eating the Maaser Sheni in Jerusalem, they gave this second tithe to the poor, who were permitted to consume it wherever they wished.
On this day it is customary to partake of the fruit which the Holy Land is famous for (Deuteronomy 8:8): olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates. If you are tasting any of these fruit for the first time this season, remember to recite the Shehecheyanu (A blessing thanking G-d "for sustaining us and enabling us to reach this occasion") blessing.
“When you besiege a city for an extended period during a war against it, you shall not chop down the trees; you may eat from them, but not uproot them; for Man is the Tree of the Field . . .” D'varim (Deuteronomy) 20:19
$60.00 | Regular price: $100.00 Sale price: $70.00 | $160.00 |
$60.00 | $160.00 | $35.00 |
$20.00 | $5.00 | $60.00 |
$33.00 | $20.00 | $65.00 |
$54.00 | $25.00 | $54.00 |
$50.00 | $125.00 | $58.00 |
$12.00 | $12.00 | $30.00 |
$65.00 | $43.00 | $20.00 |
$57.00 | $50.00 | $5.00 |
$5.00 | $11.50 | Regular price: $30.00 Sale price: $28.50 |
$6.95 |
