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Holiday Dates - Tu B'Shevat 2010 / 15th of Sh'vat, 5770
Munday, January 30, 2009




On the 15th day of the Hebrew month Shvat, we celebrate Tu B'Shevat the "The New Years for Trees." It is the time of the year when we remember our unique connection between Judaism and nature. It is a reminder that spring and the fresh fruits of the harvest are not too far off.

In Jewish tradition, people have a special relationship with nature and that we should guard the sanctity of the trees and the environment as part of our natural world. The Bible teaches us that the children of Israel were commanded to plant trees and other foliage as they conquered the holy land of Israel "for the tree of the fields is man's life". (Deuteronomy 20:19)
As part of Jewish tradition, on this day, we eat from among seven special species of vegetation. These species are all native to the land of Israel:
Barley
Dates
Figs
Grapes
Pomegranates
Olives
Wheat
After the exile of the Jews from Israel, Tu B'Shvat became a day on which to commemorate our connection to Israel. During much of Jewish history, the only observance of this day was the practice of eating fruit associated with the land of Israel.

A tradition based on Deuteronomy 8:8 holds that there are five fruits and two grains associated with it as a "land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and [date] honey." Almonds were also given a prominent place in Tu B'Shvat meals since the almond trees were believed to be the first of all trees in Israel to blossom. Carob or St John's bread - was the most popular fruit to use, since it could survive the long trip from Israel to Jewish communities in Europe and North Africa.

The medieval mystical Kabbalists carried Tu B'Shvat a step further. For them, trees were a symbol of humans, as it says: "For a human is like a tree of the field" (Deut. 20:19). In line with their general concern with Tikun Olam -spiritually repairing the world - the Kabbalists regarded eating a variety of fruits on Tu B'Shvat as a way of improving our spiritual selves. They believed that the ritual consumption of the fruits and the nuts, if done with the proper intention, would cause the sparks of holy light hidden in the fruit to be liberated from their shells and rise up the heavenly ladder to return to their divine source, thereby contributing to the renewal of life for the coming year. The Bible is referred to as a "tree of life to them that hold fast to it."

The Kabbalists pictured their philosophical construct of the Sephirot - the ten mystical emanations of the divinity - in the form of a heavenly tree or ladder.
For the Kabbalists, trees were symbolic also of the tree - the Tree of Life, which carries divine goodness and blessing into the world. To encourage this flow and effect Tikun Olam, the Kabbalists of Ts'fat (16th century) created a Tu Bishvat seder loosely modeled after the Pesach seder.




The popular custom today is to eat from all the seven types of fruit with which the land of Israel is praised and blessed (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives & dates - Deuteronomy 8:8-9).




Traditional Tu B'Shevat Recipes
Date and Nut Pudding
Tu B'Shvat Fruitcake

INGREDIENTS:

1 2/3 cup dates, pitted and diced
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
1 tbsp sugar


For dairy version: whipped cream 1.Preheat the oven to 325 F/170 C. Grease a 9 in./23 cm square baking dish.

2.In a bowl, combine the dates, walnuts, flour, baking powder and salt.

3.Beat the eggs with the sugar in a small bowl. Add to the date mixture and mix well.

4.Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake for 40 minutes.

5.Serve warm with whipped cream.For 6-8 people



INGREDIENTS:

This fruitcake is lighter than the classic version. You need:
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sifted flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1 cup dried fruit
1 cup mixed nuts: almonds, macadamias, walnuts, pecans, etc.



1.Mix all ingredients together.

2.Put in a greased loaf pan.

3.Bake at 350 degrees preheated oven until brown.

4.Stick a toothpick in the center to check if the cake is done. If it comes out clean, you can let it cool, then enjoy!

Serves 8



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