EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
The New Year of the Trees & Couscous with Chicken

The New Year of the Trees & Couscous with Chicken

Take a moment to pause and imagine:  Spring is only a few weeks away!
The Jewish holiday of Tu b’Shvat is a day set aside to celebrate the fruit of the trees and to give thanks for their well-being and bounty.

Perfect timing.

This year, the New Year of the Trees occurs between sundown on February 7 and nightfall on February 8.

This minor holiday is mentioned in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 19:23-25, as a way to measure the age of trees and when it is appropriate to begin harvesting fruit from the young’uns.

Interested yet?

Here’s how it goes:  In the first three years, no fruit should be picked. The fourth year is a year to dedicated the fruit to G-d.  After that, harvest is allowed.

Makes sense to me as we give the trees time to set their roots firmly and the fruit develops without being tampered with.

The tradition of planting trees on this holiday has been enacted for many years in Israel. Any tree planted during the year is considered to have a birthday when the holiday of Tu b’Shvat arrives.

The holiday is a reminder to pause and reflect on the miracle and bounty of nature. It also marks the beginning of the growing season as we sense the soil warming up as spring approaches.

Some celebrate the holiday by eating items related to the seven species described in the Old Testament. They are:

wheat
barley
grapes
figs
pomegranates
olives
dates

Why not set aside a day to celebrate the value of trees and their fruit as a source of physical and spiritual sustenance?

Take a walk in the woods or in your favorite park.  Pause to observe the trees closely as buds miraculously begin to appear.
 Enjoy the increasing minutes of light at the end of the still cold winter days.
Connecticut food writer, Ronnie Fein shared this recipe with me when I met her to discuss the upcoming holiday.
 
She is the author of a wonderful book called Hip Kosher,  175 Easy-to-Prepare Recipes for Today’s Kosher Cooks.
 Her passion for healthy ingredients and flavors from around the globe comes through in each page. Her recipes are friendly, contemporary, and just happen to be kosher.
This easy stir fry is  low-fat, colorful, and incorporates some of the seven species mentioned above.
Even if pistachios are not included specifically in the list, they are one of only TWO nuts mentioned in the Bible. The other is almonds, which are mentioned many times.
Pistachios grow on small trees in dry climates and proliferate in the Middle East and parts of California.
Dried apricots are related to other dried fruits on the list. They pack a much higher nutritional punch than the fresh version as the carotene is deeply concentrated and impervious to heat.
Enjoy the celebration!

20 Comments

  4. As a tree lover (and hugger), I am delighted to learn about the Jewish holiday of Tu b’Shvat. This dish looks delicioius. Considering quinoa instead of couscous due to a wheat sensitivity.

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SIDE DISH
Photo by Jerri Graham Photography

Hi. I’m Liz and I welcome you to Kosher Like Me.

When I’m not caressing fruits and veggies at my local farmers’ market you’ll likely find me chatting with like-minded eaters, probing the scene in NYC or seeking inspiration in my spice cabinet. Life outside of this blog is all about my family, tasty travel adventures and power walks deep in the CT woods or along the shore.

Please brew a fragrant cup of tea, grab a nosh and stay a while.