The Secret Life of Trees: Tu B’Shevat’s Mystical and Prophetic Meaning

Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees, is far more than an agricultural holiday—it carries profound mystical, prophetic, and redemptive significance. Rooted in both the Torah and Kabbalistic traditions, this special day marks the renewal of trees in Israel and serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual growth and divine restoration.

Significance in the Jewish Calendar

Tu B’Shevat is observed on the 15th of Shevat in the Jewish calendar. This year, it begins at sundown on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, and ends the next evening. While it originated as an agricultural marker, it has evolved into a spiritual celebration, reflecting themes of renewal, divine sustenance, and the Jewish people's connection to the Land of Israel.

Biblical Origins of Tu B’Shevat

The Torah first references the importance of tree cycles in Leviticus 19:23-25:

"When you come to the land and you plant any tree, you shall treat its fruit as forbidden; for three years it will be forbidden and not eaten. In the fourth year, all of its fruit shall be sanctified to praise the L-RD. In the fifth year, you may eat its fruit."

This commandment established the halachic framework for determining when fruit trees could be harvested and tithed after the Israelites entered the Promised Land. The practice later expanded into a national celebration, marking the spiritual and agricultural rebirth of trees.

Historical Context: The Four New Years in Jewish Tradition

The Mishnah in Rosh Hashanah 1:1 states that there are four New Years, each marking a different beginning:

Nissan 1 – The New Year for kings and the biblical calendar cycle.

Elul 1 / Tishrei 1 – The New Year for animal tithes and temple sacrifices.

Tishrei 1 – Rosh Hashanah, the universal New Year and day of divine judgment.

Shevat 15 – Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees, significant for tithing fruit.

A well-known dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai concerned whether Tu B’Shevat should fall on the 1st or 15th of Shevat. Jewish tradition follows Beit Hillel, observing it on the 15th.

This debate may be tied to Moses' final speech in Deuteronomy, which began on Shevat 1. By Shevat 15, the Israelites had gained greater spiritual insight, possibly influencing the ruling of Beit Hillel.

Why "Tu" in Tu B’Shevat?

The Hebrew letters Tet (9) and Vav (6) = 15 spell "Tu." This avoids the combination of Yud (10) and Hey (5), which form part of the Divine Name, something avoided in common use.

Calculating Tree Age for Tithing

Jewish law determines tree age based on Tu B’Shevat. A tree planted on Shevat 14 is considered one year old the next day. However, a tree planted on Shevat 16 won’t be considered a year old until the following Tu B’Shevat. Since fruit tithes change annually, Tu B’Shevat ensures a standardized cutoff.

Tu B’Shevat and the Tree of Life

Beyond agriculture, Tu B’Shevat represents the Tree of Life (Etz Chaim)—a symbol of divine wisdom and the flow of spiritual energy. This holiday is a time of renewal both in nature and within the human soul.

Kabbalists teach that Tu B’Shevat is connected to the rectification of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. If the first sin came from eating the wrong fruit, Tu B’Shevat allows us to elevate creation by eating with intention.

The Astrological Connection: Aquarius and Divine Flow

Tu B’Shevat occurs in the month of Shevat, linked to the zodiac sign Aquarius (D’li in Hebrew), the Water Bearer. Water symbolizes Torah wisdom. Just as Aquarius pours forth water, Tu B’Shevat represents the flow of divine wisdom nourishing the Jewish people.

Kabbalistic texts describe Shevat as a time of spiritual irrigation, when divine energy flows like water, awakening new potential. Just as trees in Israel begin absorbing renewed nourishment during this time, human souls also require a steady flow of Torah learning and inspiration to thrive.

Customs and Celebrations of Tu B’Shevat

Many observe Tu B’Shevat by eating a new seasonal fruit, sometimes incorporating up to fifteen different kinds. A central part of the celebration includes eating from the Seven Species mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:8: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates.

The Tu B’Shevat Seder, modeled after the Passover Seder, was developed by 16th-century Kabbalists to explore the spiritual meaning of fruits and the Four Worlds of Creation. This practice, originally popular among Sephardic communities, has gained widespread acceptance among Ashkenazi Jews in recent years.

The Messianic Significance of Tu B’Shevat

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) states that the flourishing of Israel signals the approaching Messianic era.

"But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit for My people Israel, for they are soon to come." (Ezekiel 36:8)

For centuries, Israel lay barren. Today, it is blossoming, fulfilling prophecy. The Jewish National Fund, founded in 1901, has planted millions of trees in Israel, making it the only country with a net increase in trees annually. In 1949, the first Israeli Knesset session was held on Tu B’Shevat, reinforcing the holiday’s prophetic significance.

Yeshua and the Parable of the Blind Man Seeing Trees

One of the most intriguing Tu B’Shevat connections in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) is the healing of the blind man:

"He looked up and said, ‘I see people, but they look like trees walking.’” (Mark 8:24)

Why did the man first see people as trees? The vascular and neurological systems resemble tree branches, just as trees function as conduits of life in nature. The Torah is called the Tree of Life (Etz Chaim), representing wisdom, healing, and divine connection.

This moment suggests a deeper spiritual vision, where the man briefly saw beyond the physical into the hidden structure of life itself. It is possible that his sight, before fully adjusting to the physical world, perceived the divine blueprint of creation—a world where humanity, like trees, stands as a conduit of spiritual energy.

Final Reflections on Tu B’Shevat

Tu B’Shevat is a reminder of renewal, redemption, and divine providence. Whether through planting trees in Israel, eating the Seven Species, or reflecting on the spiritual significance of fruit and growth, this day encourages both physical and spiritual development.

The biblical vision of the Messianic age is one of abundance, peace, and restoration. Micah 4:4 states, “Each man shall sit under his vine and fig tree, and none shall make them afraid.”

May Tu B’Shevat inspire us to deepen our faith, refine our wisdom, and bear the fruits of righteousness in preparation for the coming redemption.