Test your knowledge about this environmentally-focused festival.
Tu B’Shevat is one of the lesser known holidays in the Jewish calendar. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t incredibly significant (and fun!) Test your knowledge about this environmentally-focused festival.
1. Tu B’Shevat shares a ritual from another holiday. Which is it?
A. A Seder, like Passover.
B. Shaking an Etrog, like Sukkot.
C. Sounding of Shofar, like Rosh Hashanah.
D. Getting drunk, like Purim.
Answer: A - The Tu B’Shevat Seder is a wonderful custom where assortments of fruits and other produce are enjoyed while invoking special blessings while gaining new appreciation for the land of Israel. It is also a deeply Kabbalistic ritual which provides spiritual renewal and gives great inspiration for meditation.
2. Tu B’Shevat is considered a new year. How many new years do the Jewish people have?
A. Just Rosh Hashanah. Tu B’Shevat is only metaphorically considered a new year.
B. Rosh Hashanah and Tu B’Shevat
C. Rosh Hashanah, Tu B’Shevat, and Nissan
D. Rosh Hashanah, Tu B’Shevat, Nissan, and Elul
Answer: D. The Jewish people mark four new years! The first of the Jewish month of Tishrei (what we’d call Rosh Hashanah) is the new year for counting the years. The first of the month of Nissan (think: just before Passover) is the new year for the Kings and establishing festivals. The first of the month of Elul (the month before Rosh Hashanah) is the month for giving donations of gratitude (aka tithing) for your animals. And Tu B’Shevat is a new year for the trees.
3. What do Tu B’Shevat, Tu B’Av, Sukkot, Passover, Shushan Purim all have in common?
A. They all forbid creative work.
B. They all are written about in the Torah.
C. You’re very likely to see a full moon when celebrating.
D. They all have a special blessing during a prayer service.
Answer: C - The Jewish calendar is lunar in nature (mostly, we do correct for the solar revolution.) Because the Jewish people are often compared to the moon, many holidays are celebrated when the moon (and thus the Jewish people) are at their brightest. So if the month starts when the moon is new, it would make sense that holidays would be celebrated on the 15th of the month when there is a full moon. In fact, the name Tu B’Shevat literally means the 15th of the month of Shevat.
4. Tu B’Shevat can be compared to which secular holiday?
A. Earth Day
B. Groundhog Day
C. New Year’s Day
D. Vernal Equinox
E. All of the Above
Answer: All of the Above. Earth Day is the day in the secular calendar to appreciate and consider our environmental benefits. Groundhog Day and the Vernal Equinox concern themselves with the end of winter. New Year's Day is… well… a new year! Tu B’Shevat is all of these ideas rolled into one!
5. True or False: The main ritual of Tu B’Shevat is to plant trees.
True
False
False. Though planting trees on Tu B’Shevat is a great thing to do, it is much more of a modern invention. From a biblical perspective, the holiday is more associated with the donations farmers used to make based on the year’s crop yield. In the middle ages, the holiday became associated with mystical renewal. But not until the late 19th century and early 20th century, with the spirit of Zionism, did the practice of reviving the land of Israel through planting trees take root (no pun intended).
6. Which of the following is NOT a special food to eat on Tu B’Shevat?
A. Figs
B. Dates
C. Pomegranates
D. Olives
E. Grapes or Raisins
F. Wheat or Barley
G. Nuts
H. None of the above
Answer: H, none of the above. Though Tu B’Shevat is usually thought of as being associated with appreciation to the fruits of trees, wheat and barley are grains (preferably in the form of pastry, bread, or cracker) also have a special significance in Judaism. In fact, they are an important part of the Tu B’Shevat Seder.
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