Tu Bishvat at Bialik: A New Year for Trees, a New Beginning for Our Students

This year, our first day back at school coincided with Tu Bishvat - the Jewish “New Year of the Trees.” Falling on the 15th of Shevat, Tu Bishvat originally served as a legal marker in Jewish law for calculating tithes from fruit trees in the land of Israel. It helped shape communal responsibility around agriculture, food and the natural cycles of the land.  

Over centuries, the day evolved beyond its legal roots. In the mystical tradition of 16th‑century Tzfat, Tu Bishvat became a time of spiritual reflection, marked by a special seder featuring fruits and symbolic foods. Today, Jewish communities around the world celebrate by eating fruit, planting trees and reflecting on our relationship with the environment.

At its heart, Tu Bishvat invites us to think about growth, renewal and responsibility - what we cultivate, what we consume and what we leave behind. It connects Jewish time with the rhythms of nature and reminds us that spiritual life and the physical world are deeply intertwined.