In 2024, the holiday of Tu B’Shevat will begin the evening of Wednesday, January 24, and end the evening of Thursday, January 25. 

Tu B’Shevat is considered the New Year of the Trees, when almond trees begin to bloom in Israel. Today, many people mark this holiday by planting saplings and participating in a meal that evokes the Passover seder, where fruits, nuts, and wine or grape juice are on the menu. Besides the seder, many families spend Tu B’Shevat planting a tree, working in a garden, eating special fruit, or doing something else to show some love for trees and the earth.

Although it’s a lesser known holiday, observance of Tu B’Shevat is growing due to the rising importance of Earth stewardship. Families can celebrate by enjoying any number of activities. 

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR SUGGESTIONS:

Read a Book about Trees Read a book about nature, trees, or caring for the environment. Here are a few suggestions from PJ Library:

DEAR TREE by Doba Rivka Weber (ages 2 to 3 years)

On the Jewish New Year of the Trees (Tu B’Shvat), a little boy shares his hopes and wishes for trees—and especially for the one under which he plays.

IT’S TU B’SHEVAT by Edie Stoltz Zolkower (ages 6 months to 2 years) With rhyme and colorful illustrations, this book tells the story of a boy and his family who plant a tree in honor of the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat.

NETTA AND HER PLANT by Ellie Gelman (ages 4 to 5 years)  

The plant that Netta received on Tu B’Shevat is growing — and so is Netta. In fact, soon it will be time for the plant — and Netta — to do new things. Growing bigger is intimidating, but it’s also wonderful.

SOLOMON AND THE TREES by Matt BiersAriel (ages 8+ years)

According to this midrash, when Solomon was young he spent his days in the forest with his animal friends. Once he became king, however, he forgot how important it was to take care of the earth. In this story, he is reminded to take care of the world around him.

MAKE A DONATION

Find and support a charitable organization that plants or cares for trees.

If you’re interested in helping replant the nation’s forests, we encourage you to support JTree’s ongoing campaign at support.nationalforests.org/ fundraiser/3057507.