TU B'Shvat, What to Do and What It's About

In some ways TU B'Shvat is my favorite holiday.  I love fruit of all kinds.  So, why did I agree to work tonight, on TU B'Shvat, when I could have have been attending my neighborhood celebration?  Good question.  I'll have to make up for it by blogging.

First, let's start with Dry Bones classic, from the year we moved to Shiloh.  Actually TU B'Shvat, 1981, was my first visit to Shiloh.  I went with some good friends and our daughters, all the same ages to check it out as a potential place to live.  We planted trees near the old industrial zone, near Tel Shiloh.  Few of those trees survived, since water was at a premium at the time, being trucked in much too infrequently. 

That TU B'Shvat 31 years ago, we met a few Shiloh families and I decided that Shiloh was the place for us.  It was one of the best decisions I ever made, Baruch HaShem, thank G-d.

Check out Leora's TU B'Shvat post, a round-up of articles and reflections on the holiday.  Also read Shirat Devorah's comprehensive 7 species post.

And some TU B'Shvat food for thought from Ya'aqov about dried fruit.  As much as I love dried fruit, I must admit that he's totally on target here.  Read and comment, thanks.

Please don't forget that TU B'Shvat, like all other Jewish Holidays pertaining to the Land, weather and agriculture, are actually reminders of the centrality of the HolyLand for the Jewish People.  This isn't about general ecology; it's celebrating the Land G-d Gave to the Jewish People, ארץ ישראל Erertz Yisrael, The Land of Israel.