Understanding Nature as an Expression of Divine Law

Originally, Tu b’Shvat—the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Shvat and the “new year for the trees”—simply marked a cut-off date in the annual cycle of agricultural tithes observed by ancient Jews. A few centuries ago, mystics imbued it with greater significance and some even began performing a special “seder.” Fast-forward to the 20th century and this minor holiday became, for better or worse, a celebration of Jewish environmentalism, an idea explored in depth here.