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Jake Gutteridge attended an interfaith event Celebrating the Jewish holiday of Tu BiShvat, the celebration of trees. Hearing from community leaders about the importance of trees and why we should respect them. Also hearing the Islamic perspective – the Qur'an has many interesting verses about respecting trees. Let's remember that trees have been life-givers since the very beginning of humanity 💚
Tu BiShvat, often called the “New Year of the Trees”, celebrates the vital role trees play in sustaining life and nurturing the planet. Traditionally marked by eating fruits and planting trees, the day invites reflection on our relationship with nature and our responsibility to protect it.
The Torah mentions that the 15th day of the month Shevat is the "new year of the trees". Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg OBE, founder of EcoJudaism, provided an excellent presentation on the significance of trees in Judaism.
While it is traditionally a minor religious holiday, Tu BiShvat is widely celebrated by secular Israelis, as an ecological awareness day rather than a religious one – similar to Arbor Day in the US.
Thousands of Israelis take part in the Jewish National Fund's annual tree-planting activities, and, in keeping with the idea of the holiday marking the revival of nature, many of Israel's major institutions have chosen this day for their inauguration.
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