Yesterday was the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shvat, commonly known as Tu (the number 15 written in Hebrew letters) b’Shvat.

The Talmud established that day as the New Year for Trees. In a Hebrew year, such as the current one, without a leap month, Tu b’Shvat kicks off a series of three holidays that occur on the full moon, culminating with Passover.

In Mishnaic times, the purpose of Tu b’Shvat was to determine a calendar for agricultural tithings – the fruit of a tree that was not yet three years old on Tu b’Shvat could not be eaten at all, and various other tithings were also based on the age of the tree on Tu b’Shvat.

In the 16th century, Jewish mystics instituted the Tu b’Shvat Seder. In this ceremony, ten fruits of Israel were eaten, along with four cups of wine and the appropriate blessings, to bring people, and the world, closer to spiritual perfection.

In modern practice, Tu b’Shvat has evolved into a day of tree planting and concern for the environment – especially now, as people become more and more aware of climate change. 

On Sunday night I had the privilege of participating in a Tu B’Shvat seder, developed and led by my dear friend Tyler Pearce. It was a beautiful experience, in which we were led through the fear and sorrow of the current climate emergency, to the joy of nature and the resolve to take action and do our part, however small, in protecting it.

Many people are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem, and feel helpless and hopeless in the face of global changes we are powerless to control. This helpless feeling can lead to cynicism and complete lack of action – after all, if the world is controlled by mega corporations who are polluting with impunity, why should we bother to recycle or consider using an electric vehicle?

I would argue that cynicism is always purely destructive – if everyone succumbs to it, then for sure our world has no chance. There is always work to be done, great and small, that makes it a better place. Tu b’Shvat comes around every year, to remind us that the world needs us.

To quote the late, great Jack Layton, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.