Thread by @GREENESJ333

Roger Froikin @rlefraim wrote, "TU B’SHVAT (THE 15TH BDAY OF THE MONTH OF SHVAT)

Tu Bishvat

The Jewish "New Year for Trees," is observed on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat (falling on February 2, 2026).
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It marks the ecological New Year, celebrated by planting trees, eating fruits from the Seven Species, and environmental awareness, honoring the connection between people and nature.
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Two important things about which to be aware, two things that are often forgotten or have been forgotten.

First, in Israel, this holiday is celebrated by planting Trees. Some of us remember how the Jewish National Fund used to raise money from the sale of trees in Israel.
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It made the day meaningful and connected Jewish kids to the Jewish Homeland.

Second, there is something in history that people do not realize.
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If you live in Yisrael, or have visited there, or have simply seen photos of the land, you will notice that the hills, especially in Judea and Samaria and around Jerusalem, and in the Galilee, are covered with large rocks, and
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over the years rocks had to be cleared at great effort before land could be farmed or built in.

You might also know how many wells used 2000 years ago are now far underground below the surface of the valleys.
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Well, 2000 years ago, many of those rocks were underground, under the surface of the land. During the wars against Rome, one of Rome’s tactics was to burn down the forests—defoliation—leaving the hills bare.
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When the rainy season came, the rain washed the soil, now no longer held in place by trees, into the valleys. So the height of the hills was reduced, bearing the rocks, and in the valleys the soil piled up, filling valleys to great depth,
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leaving access to the wells substantially lower from the new surface than they were before.
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Trees hold soil in place, cool the environment, retain water in the soil when it rains, consume carbon dioxide in the air, and release oxygen to clean and enrich the air. If one wants to cool a region, plant trees. Plant forests.
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Jewish tradition states that a tree is like a man, and our sages tell us that when we cut down a tree, we must plant more trees.

So, Tu B’Shvat is not just a fun holiday. It is modern ecology, Jewish-created 3000 years ago."
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