Tu B'Shvat and the process of childhood

The 15th of Shvat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Monday 6th February 2023—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. It is also often referred to as the birthday of the trees.

Tu B'Shvat is the day when the sap begins to rise through the tree. In other words, we can’t see the fruit yet, but we are celebrating the process of growth itself, most of which we can’t see because it’s beneath the surface of the ground.

We mark the 15th of Sh'vat by eating fruit, particularly those that are singled out by the Torah: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.

The question arises: Why would we celebrate by eating fruit which has not yet started growing on the trees? Furthermore, why would we celebrate a process that we cannot see and that is only beginning to take place beneath the soil?

The answer lies in the lesson we learn from this. Life is not a destination; rather it is a process and a journey. Such is the journey of early childhood.

Day after day, we might not see the fruits of our labour as we invest in our children, watch them play and set up opportunities for learning, growth and development.

These opportunities, which are found in a finger- painted picture, a story that is shared, and a sandcastle in the sandpit are part of a bigger process that is ultimately going to yield beautiful fruits.

The purpose of childhood is not to prepare for adulthood. Rather, it is a small window of time where we get to nurture this precious stage of life. This is the lesson of fruit on Tu B'Shvat: to remind us to enjoy each step and hour of the process itself.
 

Adapted from Chabad.org