So, you're wondering what Jewish holiday is Monday?
If you’ve glanced at a Jewish calendar recently and saw January 15, 2026, marked with a holiday you might not recognize, you aren't alone. It’s Tu B’Shevat. Honestly, it’s one of those holidays that used to be a minor tax deadline for farmers in ancient Israel but has somehow morphed into a massive, global celebration of ecology, fruit-eating, and environmental activism.
It’s the "New Year for Trees." Seriously.
While most people think of Rosh Hashanah as the only Jewish New Year, the Mishnah—that's the foundational text of Jewish oral law—actually lists four different "new years." Think of it like a fiscal year versus a calendar year. Tu B'Shevat was essentially the cutoff date for tithing fruit. If a fruit ripened before this date, it belonged to the previous tax year. If it ripened after, it was part of the new one.
Practical. Boring? Maybe. But today, it’s anything but a tax form.
Why Tu B'Shevat is Monday and Why the Date Shifts
Jewish holidays are tricky because they follow a lunar-solar calendar. This means they don't land on the same Gregorian date every year. The name itself, "Tu B’Shevat," is actually just a date. "Tu" represents the Hebrew letters Tet and Vav, which have a numerical value of 15. "Shevat" is the name of the Hebrew month. So, it literally just means the 15th of Shevat.
This year, that 15th day begins at sundown on Sunday, January 14, and continues through the daylight hours of Monday, January 15, 2026.
In Israel, this timing makes perfect sense. By mid-January, the heaviest winter rains have usually passed. The sap is beginning to rise in the trees. Even if it feels like deep winter in New York or London, the almond trees in the Galilee are starting to bloom. It’s a subtle shift. A promise that spring is actually coming, even if you’re currently shoveling snow off your driveway.
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The Weird and Wonderful Rituals of the Seder
Most people know about the Passover Seder, but did you know there's a Tu B'Shevat Seder too?
This isn't an ancient requirement. It was actually popularized by the Kabbalists (Jewish mystics) in the 16th century in the city of Safed. They believed that by eating specific fruits and drinking four cups of wine in a specific order, they could repair the spiritual fabric of the universe.
No pressure, right?
The wine starts white, symbolizing winter’s dormancy. Then you mix in a little red. Then more red. Finally, the fourth cup is almost entirely red, representing the full bloom of summer.
When it comes to the food, people focus on the "Seven Species" mentioned in the Torah: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. But the mystics took it further. They divided fruits into three categories based on how you eat them:
- Hard outside, soft inside: Think walnuts or pomegranates. These represent people who might have a tough exterior but are full of goodness once you get to know them.
- Soft outside, hard inside: Olives, peaches, or dates. These represent folks with a soft heart but a "pit" of internal strength—or maybe just a bit of stubbornness.
- Soft throughout: Figs or raspberries. Total vulnerability. Everything is edible.
Eating these fruits on Monday isn't just about a snack. It's meant to be a meditative practice. You're supposed to think about the layers of your own personality while you're peeling a clementine.
The Modern Eco-Twist
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Zionist movement grabbed onto Tu B'Shevat as a way to reconnect with the land. It became a day for planting trees—literally millions of them. If you grew up in a Jewish household, you probably remember those little blue boxes (JNF boxes) where you’d drop quarters to "buy a tree in Israel."
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Today, that environmental focus has exploded.
Jewish environmental groups like Hazon (which recently merged into Adamah) use this holiday to talk about climate change, sustainable farming, and food justice. It’s become a "Jewish Earth Day." People aren't just planting saplings; they're auditing their carbon footprints and talking about how ancient sabbatical year laws (Shmita) could actually help modern soil depletion.
Dr. Jeremy Benstein, an expert on Judaism and ecology, often points out that the Torah compares humans to "trees of the field." We have roots. We need water. We strive to bear fruit.
It’s a metaphor that hits home when you’re staring at a frozen landscape on a Monday morning in January.
Common Misconceptions About the Holiday
People often get confused and think this is a "religious" holiday in the sense that you can't work or drive.
It's not.
You can totally go to work on Monday. Your boss probably won't give you the day off unless you work at a Jewish day school. There are no "thou shalt nots" for Tu B'Shevat. It’s a day of celebration, not restriction. There's no synagogue service that lasts five hours.
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Another big mistake is thinking you have to eat Israeli produce. While it’s a nice gesture to support Israeli farmers by buying some Jaffa oranges or Medjool dates, the spirit of the day is about appreciating the earth wherever you are. If you’re in California, eat a local almond. If you’re in Florida, grab a grapefruit.
How to Actually "Do" Tu B'Shevat on Monday
If you want to mark the day without going full mystic, it’s pretty simple.
First, eat something new. There is a tradition to eat a "new fruit"—something you haven't tasted yet this season—so you can say the Shehecheyanu blessing, which is a prayer for reaching a new milestone. Go to the weird section of the produce aisle. Buy a dragon fruit or a starfruit.
Second, think about your "roots."
The 15th of Shevat is a reminder that growth happens underground long before you see a sprout. What are you working on right now that hasn't "broken the surface" yet? Use Monday to acknowledge that hidden progress.
Third, do something green. Donate to an environmental cause, start a compost bin, or just finally buy that reusable water bottle you’ve been eyeing.
The Bottom Line on Monday’s Holiday
Tu B’Shevat is a bridge. It bridges the gap between the ancient agricultural past and our high-tech, climate-anxious future. It’s a day that asks us to be mindful of what we consume and where it comes from.
So, when Monday rolls around, don’t just treat it like another workday. Grab a handful of dried apricots, maybe a glass of wine (if you're off the clock), and take a second to appreciate the fact that, somewhere, the sap is rising and the world is getting ready to turn green again.
Actionable Steps for Tu B'Shevat Monday:
- Visit a local farmer’s market: Find a fruit you’ve never tried before to perform the "new fruit" ritual.
- Host a mini-seder: You don't need a script. Just get four types of wine (or grape juice) and some nuts and fruits, and talk with friends about the environment.
- Check your "Tree" impact: Use a carbon footprint calculator to see where you can trim your environmental impact this year.
- Support reforestation: Organizations like the Jewish National Fund (JNF) or One Tree Planted allow you to dedicate a tree to a loved one for a small fee.
- Read the "Seven Species": Look up the nutritional benefits of dates, figs, and pomegranates—they are essentially the original superfoods.
The holiday ends at nightfall on Monday, so you have the whole day to integrate these small habits into your routine. It's a low-pressure way to connect with a tradition that's been around for over two thousand years.