Article Discussion: What is Tu Bishvat Anyway?

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Click here to read the article:What is Tu Bishvat Anyway?

[Hershl Hartman]

Aspects missing:
a) Moving new years from new moon (1st) to full moon (15th) may well have de-emphasized worship of the goddess, Ashera, who is associated with the new moon.
b) Why t"u (9+6), rather than y"h (10+5)?
c) Why is it no longer called by its full Hebrew name, khamishe oser b'shvat?

Is cultural anthropology and comparative folklore "unJewish?"
 

[Benjamin Maron]

Harold,

The debate over the date (the first or the 15th) was mentioned in the post, it was argued in Mishnah. It's possible that pagan worship was a reason, but there does not seem to be proof for that.

Your second two points have the same answer. The name you gave literally means "five ten of Shvat." Because Hebrew letters are used as numbers, the rabbis do not use 5+10 for 15, as the letters hay and yud are also an abbreviation for the holy name of God. Instead, 6+9 is always used for 15. The name Tu Bishvat reflects 9+6=15 of Shvat.

Hope that helps!

[Virginia May Reynolds]

Well, whilst I will make it clear that I'm no scholar in either the Jewish or the Wiccan faiths, I'm myself a Wiccan and I'm married to a Jewish man.  We both keep our faiths but strive at understanding each other's.  This particular festival strikes a cord with me in terms of the agricultural element present in most religions, but certainly very evident in this particular festivity.

To me it's further proof that we are not all that many miles apart, far from it and that humans have always made associations between nature and the divine.  

This is a time of the year were I feel really elated by the fact that Dan and myself can celebrate something together which is pretty common to both our sets of beliefs.  It is especially treasured by me also because, although we agreed to bring up our son as Jewish, the similarities are such that it isn't necessary to say: 'mummy thinks that, and daddy thinks that...' like it's for instance the case between Christianity and Judaism when it comes to Christmas, say (talking about my son and my parents here) so it is incredibly refreshing to see yet another common denominator and one very relevant still today, especially in a western socity that struggles to get back to basics when it comes to nature and what we eat/drink from it and in which form.

Also, very good point about Israel and the effort that the Jewish people made from the time of the creation of the state to be in tune with the land, and to make it more fruitful.  

Great article!