“Tu B’Shevat

is also called:

“Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot” (Hebrew: ראש השנה לאילנות‎),

literally

“New Year of the Trees”

 

 

SHALOM!

Think about it: ARE YOU CONNECTED TO THE TREE OF LIFE/VINE?

I find it intriguing that the Hebrew people of Israel set aside a day in the year to celebrate trees. Why?

Note that trees are often likened to mankind and vise versa in the Holy Biblical Scriptures. We have some lessons to learn from them as mankind. All kinds of trees are mention in the Holy Scriptures, e.g.

• Cedar Trees,
• Palm Trees,
• Oak Trees,
• Olive Trees, etc

 

On the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar we celebrate Rosh HaShanah L’Ilanot,the “New Year for the Trees.” Some customs for this day:

• It is customary to increase in the amount of fruits one eats on the 15th of Shevat, in order to praise G‑d who created all these species of fruits.

In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration. Its role is important to the concept of Chadash.

What is Chadash?

In Judaism, Chadash (or Chodosh) (Hebrew: חדש, “new [grain]”) is a concept within Kashrut (the Jewish dietary regulations), based on the Biblical requirement not to eat any grain of the new year (or products made from it) prior to the annual Omer offering on the 16th day of Nisan.

Grain products which are no longer affected by this law are referred to as Yashan (= old).

In Rabbinic Judaism, this requirement is restricted to the five classical grains of Judaism – wheat, barley, oat, spelt, and rye; any of these grains (or products made from them) that are too “young” to pass the requirement are referred to in Judaism as Chadash (“new [grain]”). Additionally, the rabbinic interpretation requires grain to have taken root prior to the Omer offering for it to become permitted; therefore, grains planted after Passover could only be consumed, at the earliest, twelve months later.

Following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Omer offering is no longer offered. Instead, the new grain becomes permissible following the date on which the offering was brought in ancient times. Chazal enacted a one-day further delay because of the extra day of holiday outside the Land of Israel.

 

Tu B’Shevat usually comes after SHABBAT “SHIRA” (which is also known as SHABBAT “BESHALACH”). The reason for calling it “SHIRA” is because of “Moses’ and Miriam’s Songs of Praise” which were sang immediately after successfully crossing the Sea of Reeds/Reed Sea (a.k.a Red Sea). For more information on this, click here.

Some Hebrew People celebrate SHABBAT SHIRA together with TU B’SHEVAT.

 

 

 

PRAYER:

• May you be fruitful and multiply in YAHUSHUA’S name as per YAH’S/ELOHIM’S Mitzvah in Genesis 2!!!

 

• ABBA YAHUVEH/YAHWEH, let the foundation that you laid through only begotten SON, YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH for your beloved be my foundation and that of my family in every area of our lives in YAHUSHUA’S name!!!

AMEN!

 

During the Feast of Tu B’Shevat, we are reminded that:

• YAHUSHUA is the Tree of Life!

 

• YAHUSHUA is the Vine!

 

• YAHUSHUA is the TORAH!

 

• The Tree of Life therefore represents the TORAH!

 

• The Vine therefore represents the TORAH!

 

• Also remember that YAHUSHUA was hang on a tree when being crucified. Why a tree? Why not something else?

 

• YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH was the First Fruits of death. He even rose on the Feast of First Fruits (17th of Nisan/Nissan/Abib), which is 3 days after Pesach/Passover.

 

• YAHUSHUA who/which is the WORD of YAH/ELOHIM as well as every WORD which  proceeds from the mouth of YAHUVEH/YAHWEH ELOHIM is therefore The TORAH, Tree of Life, Vine as well as First Fruits! As the Tree of Life, HE did produce much good fruit while on this earth.

 

• We are required to do the same – be fruitful and multiply in every area of our lives!

 

Is Tu B’Shevat a bank/public holiday?

No. Tu B’Shevat (also known as Arbor Day) is not a public holiday in countries such as Israel, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States.  However, some Jewish organizations may be closed or offer a limited service to allow for festivities to occur on this day.

The Israelite Jews do regard it highly. It is almost as if it is a bank holiday in the Holy Land, Israel.

 

What to Wear on Tu B’Shevat:

White Clothes plus carry picnic fruit baskets

 

 

What Do People Do?

Many Jewish people make a special effort to eat a meal consisting of dried fruit and nuts accompanied by red wine or grape juice. They often share this meal with family members and close friends. Some people pickle or candy the etrog (a citrus fruit) used at the ceremonies during Sukkot and eat it on Tu B’Shevat.

Many Jewish people, particularly in Israel and on kibbutzim, plant trees or take part in activities to further environmental awareness. In this respect, Tu B’Shevat has a lot in common with Arbor Day celebrations around the world.

 

Background

According to some readings of Jewish law, fruit that ripens in the first three years that a tree gives fruit is considered orlah. This means that it is not kosher and thus not acceptable for Jewish people to eat. Tu B’Shevat marks the “new year” or “birthday” of trees. Fruit that ripens in the third year on or after the 15th day of the month of Shevat is kosher. Traditionally, the fruit that ripened in the fourth year was taken to the temple as a tithe (form of taxation). This is now paid symbolically using coins.

Some Jewish people began to hold a symbolic sedar (meal) on Tu B’Shevat after 1600 CE. This consisted of different types of fruit and nuts, each of which had a specific spiritual meaning. This custom is still alive for some Jewish groups.

Tu B’Shevat is one of four Jewish new years. One of the most well known is Rosh Hashana on the first day of the month of Tishrei. The New Year for kings and festivals is on the first day of the month of Nisan (or Nissan). The New Year for animal tithes is on the first day of the month of Elul.

 

Symbols

Important symbols of Tu B’Shevat include different types of dried fruit arranged on a platter, flowering almond trees and the “seven species”. These are:

• Barley.

• Dates.

• Figs.

• Grapes.

• Olives.

• Pomegranates.

• Wheat.

The seven species are associated with the Land of Israel in the TORAH so they have an important place in Jewish culture.

 

 

What is Tu B’Shevat?

Tu B’Shevat, also known as Tu B’Shevet or Tu Bishvat, is the day that trees come of age according to Jewish law. Jewish people mark this day by eating a symbolic meal of fruit and nuts or planting trees.

TU B’SHEVAT, the 15th day of the Hebrew Month called “SHEVAT,” is the Jewish New Year for trees. While it is winter in much of the world, in the Holy Land called Israel, the almond trees are beginning to bloom, annoncing the start of spring. People celebrate the holiday by planting new trees, but in places where it is too cold to plant, families celebrate by eating fruits that grow in Israel, such as almonds, oranges, figs, dates and carob.

The name Tu BiShvat is derived from the Hebrew date of the holiday, which occurs on the fifteenth day of Shevat. “Tu” stands for the Hebrew letters Tet and Vav, which together have the numerical value of 9 and 6, adding up to 15. Tu BiShvat is a relatively recent name; the date was originally called “Ḥamisha Asar BiShvat” (חמשה-עשר בשבט), which means “Fifteenth of Shevat”.

 

TU B’SHEVAT celebrates trees and the important role they play in the environment. The holiday also shows appreciation for the planet, reminding us that it is our job to help take care of it. Remeber Genesis 2 (The name of the holiday is actually a date: “tu b’Shevat” literally means the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat in the Jewish calendar.)

 

Deuteronomy 20:5-7; 19-20 Names of God Bible (NOG)

Laws for Warfare

⁵ The officers should tell the troops, “If you have built a new house but not dedicated it, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will dedicate it. ⁶ If you have planted a vineyard and not enjoyed the grapes, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will enjoy the grapes. ⁷ If you are engaged to a woman but have not married her, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will marry her.”

 

¹⁹ This is what you must do whenever you blockade a city for a long time in order to capture it in war. Don’t harm any of its fruit trees with an ax. You can eat the fruit. Never cut those trees down, because the trees of the field are not people you have come to blockade. ²⁰ You may destroy trees that you know are not fruit trees. You may cut them down and use them in your blockade until you capture the city.

 

 

The holiday usually arrives during mild spring weather in the Middle East. Ever since, Jews began leaving the Holy Land, israel in the massive resettling known as the Diaspora, the Jewish challenge of holding on to cherished culture in new lands, Jews have come up with new traditions – and those customs reflect the lands where we have settled.

 

One example of being creating is to plant “parsley,” a simple way to grow something green indoors. The bonus? it can be harvested just in time for Passover, when parsley comes in handy for the Passover Seder, the ritual Passover  meal.

 

Another Tu B’Shevat custom is to eat fruits and nuts that come from trees, in a different kind of ritual meal – a Tu B’Shevat seder!

 

We are to keep in mind that:

SNOW DOESN’T HAVE TO GET IN THE WAY OF A MEANINGFUL Tu B’Shevat”.

A little creativity goes a long way.

 

 

 

Tu B’Shevat Seder: What to eat on Tu B’Shevat:

It is advised not to eat meat on Tu B’Shevat but if you like, you can serve meat foods. Ensure you don’t include any diary products for Kosher/Kashrut reasons.

Celebrate the Jewish holiday, and the fruits of the Earth, with this menu full of healthy fruits and vegetables, the Jewish holiday celebrating the fruits of the earth and trees.

Traditionally, a bounty of fruits and vegetables grace the Tu B’Shevat table. In some parts of the world, Jews partake in a Tu B’Shevat seder meal complete with prayers and food blessings. Others celebrate by taking a picnic under the trees or simply making a meal featuring the fruits of the season. Jewish schools often hold outdoor parades; students wear all white and make baskets overflowing with fruit. In Israel, people are encouraged to plant trees and give back to the Earth, which is similar to our U.S. tradition of Arbor Day.

 

 

 

 

Typical foods served on Tu B’Shevat include fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables. Those who partake in a Tu B’Shevat seder will eat at least 15 different types of fruits and vegetables. It is also customary to include the seven species mentioned in the TORAH:

• wheat,

• barley,

• grapes,

• figs,

• pomegranates,

• olives,

and

• dates.

You can also decorate your Tu B’Shevat table with the seven species and other natural, woodsy decorations —

• branches,
• fresh flowers,
• delicate fruits, and
• bowls of nuts.

• Fruits and nuts with hard, inedible exteriors and soft edible insides, such as oranges, bananas, walnuts, and pistachios. Note that some count oranges and other citrus as wholly edible, in keeping with the interpretation of the etrog as being on the highest level.
• Fruits and nuts with soft exteriors, but with a hard pit inside, such as dates, apricots, olives and persimmons
• Fruit that is eaten whole, such as figs and berries.

 

 

 

Suggested Menu for Tu B’Shevat

Here is a meatless Tu B’Shevat menu that you can enjoy with your family. Bear in mind that the vegetarian aspect of this menu is purely my personal preference. You could certainly serve a meat meal on the holiday, but to keep it kosher don’t mix any of the dairy dishes here with a meat entrée.

To Start:

Stuffed Figs with Goat Cheese

Green Salad with Fruit

Main Dish:

Butternut Squash Soup with Chickpeas

For Dessert:

Seven Species Muffins

 

Tu B’Shevat Blessings & Prayers:

 

 

Tu B”Shevat Sedar Order

(By Prophet Ezra of YAH’S Amightywind Ministry)

 

Let us delve into the Holy Scriptures related to this topic as follows:

It is interesting to find that even when giving instructions for warfare, YAHUVEH ELOHIM includes instructions regarding trees. See below:

Deuteronomy 20 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Confidence in Battle

20 

¹⁹ “When you lay siege to a city for a long time, making war against it to capture it, you are not to destroy its trees by swinging an axe at them. For from them you may eat, so you shall not chop them down. For is the tree of the field human, that it should enter the siege before you? ²⁰ You may destroy and chop down only the trees that you know are not trees for food, so that you may build siege equipment against the city that is making war with you until its downfall.

YAHUVEH ELOHIM Almighty cares about trees and their existence so very much, especially those which produce fruit.

 

Additionally, YAHUVEH ELOHIM gives instructions regarding trees for the SHABBAT year/Sabbatical. Note that according to Jewish tradition, which tradition, they obtained from YAHUVEH ELOHIM Almighty as per Leviticus 25, the fruit of trees was only to be eaten after a tree had become 4 years old. What does this imply in relation to mankind after receiving YAH’S SALVATION? Think about it?

Leviticus 25 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Parashat Behar

Shabbat Year and Jubilee

25 Then Adonai said to Moses on Mount Sinai, ² “Speak to Bnei-Yisraeland tell them: When you come into the land which I give you, then the land is to keep a Shabbat to Adonai. ³ For six years you may sow your field and for six years you may prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits. ⁴ But in the seventh year there is to be a Shabbat rest for the land—a Shabbat to Adonai. You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard. ⁵ You are not to reap what grows by itself during your harvest nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. It is to be a year of Shabbat rest for the land. ⁶ Whatever the Shabbat of the land produces will be food for yourself, for your servant, for your maidservant, for your hired worker and for the outsider dwelling among you. ⁷ Even for your livestock and for the animals that are in your land—all its increase will be enough food.

⁸ “You are to count off seven Shabbatot of years—seven times seven years, so that the time is seven Shabbatot of years—49 years. ⁹ Then on the tenth day of the seventh month, on Yom Kippur, you are to sound a shofar blast—you are to sound the shofar all throughout your land. ¹⁰ You are to make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It is to be a Jubilee to you, when each of you is to return to his own property and each of you is to return to his family. ¹¹ That fiftieth year will be your Jubilee. You are not to sow, or reap that which grows by itself, or gather from the untended vines. ¹² Since it is a Jubilee, it is to be holy to you. You will eat from its increase out of the field.

¹³ “In this Year of Jubilee each of you will return to his property.

¹⁴ “If you sell anything to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you are not to wrong one another. ¹⁵ Corresponding to the number of years after the Jubilee you are to purchase land from your neighbor’s hand. He is to sell it to you based on the number of years of crops. ¹⁶ In proportion to the extent of years you may increase its price, or decrease its price in proportion to the fewness of years, because he is selling a number of harvests to you. ¹⁷ You are not to cheat one another, but fear your God, for I am Adonai your God.

¹⁸ “Therefore you are to keep My statutes and observe My ordinances, and carry them out, so that you may live securely in the land. ¹⁹ Then the land will yield its fruit, and you may eat your fill and live there in safety. ²⁰ Now if you ask: What are we to eat during the seventh year if, see, we are not to sow, nor gather in our increase? ²¹ Now I will command My blessing to you in the sixth year, so that it will yield a harvest sufficient for three years. ²² When you sow during the eighth year, you will still be eating the old, stored harvest until the harvest of the ninth year comes in……

etc…

Through the above Holy Scripture, we see YAHUVEH ELOHIM ensuring that trees are preserved even during the SHABBAT Year/Sabbatical. Ask yourself why?

 

We are expected by YAHUVEH ELOHIM to grow after accepting YAH’S SALVATION which is YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH. It is my belief having read the above that after 4 years of being in YAHUSHUA or accepting YAH’S SALVATION, we as mankind are expected to be fruitful! Click here for more information on being fruitful.

YAHUVEH ELOHIM said to mankind beginning with Adam (Adam) and Eve (Chavvah) that:

Genesis 1:28 King James Version (KJV)

²⁸ And GOD blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 

We, as mankind therefore have a requirement to be fruitful and multiply both physically and spiritually!!!

 

In prayer, check your SPIRITUAL FRUIT as well as PHYSICAL FRUIT!

• Ask yourself, what do people around you have to say about you?
• How is your character? Does it speak well of YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH, your spiritual BRIDEGROOM?

The main way to produce good fruit is through lovingly and obediently observing YAH’S TORAH!!!

 

YAHUSHUA demonstrates the importance of being fruitful in life both physically and spiritually as a tree and as mankind:

Mark 11:12-25 Names of God Bible (NOG)

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

¹² The next day, when they left Bethany, Yeshua became hungry. ¹³ In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn’t the season for figs. ¹⁴ Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this.

The Fig Tree Dries Up

²⁰ While Yeshua and his disciples were walking early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up. ²¹ Peter remembered what Yeshua had said, so he said to Yeshua, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.”

²² Yeshua said to them, “Have faith in God! ²³ I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him. ²⁴ That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours. ²⁵ Whenever you pray, forgive anything you have against anyone. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your failures.”^[a]

YAHUSHUA’S WORD keeping in mind that YAHUSHUA is the WORD OR YAH/ELOHIM takes effect on the fig tree.

Note that Fruitlessness draws or attracts curses to us. Beware and take care how you behave both in public and in private!

 

PRAYER:

• May the portion of that fig tree never be your portion in YAHUSHUA’S name!

 

• ABBA YAHUVEH reconnect me to you and YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH and SHKINYINYAH GLORY ELOHIM that I may produce good fruit for you including the fruit of the RUACH HA KODESH in YAHUSHUA’S name!

 

The following is very true indeed. I grew up in an environment of farming. The people in the community always cared about what they were farming whether it was animals or plants. When talking to each other, very often, the nature of the growth and fruit of various plants, particularly trees were discussed a lot.

Luke 6:43-45 New King James Version (NKJV)

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

⁴³ “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.⁴⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart^[a] brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

 

 

 

YAHUSHUA said the following to HIS disciples:

Matthew 7:18 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

¹⁸ A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit.

We need YAH’S SALVATION a.k.a YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH in order to bear good fruit for YAH/ELOHIM Almighty! YAHUSHUA  needs to be in our lives and we in HIM as per John 15.

 

YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH compares Prophets to Trees.

Matthew 7:15-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

 

On Tu B’Shevat, we are reminded of Psalm 1 and  John 15 as the main Holy Biblical Scriptures:

Psalm 1 Names of God Bible (NOG)

BOOK ONE

(Psalms 1–41)

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the person who does not
    follow the advice of wicked people,
        take the path of sinners,
            or join the company of mockers.
² Rather, he delights in the teachings of Yahweh
    and reflects on his teachings day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted beside streams—
    a tree that produces fruit in season
        and whose leaves do not wither.
    He succeeds in everything he does.^[a]

⁴ Wicked people are not like that.
    Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away.
⁵ That is why wicked people will not be able to stand in the judgment
    and sinners will not be able to stand where righteous people gather.

 

Note that the Righteous man is likened to a tree… This tree does things according to YAH’S/ELOHIM’S timing (not his or her own timing! The tree’s foundation is also very good.

Psalm 11:3 King James Version (KJV)

³ If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

 

1 Corinthians 3:11 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

¹¹ For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid^[a]—which is Yeshua the Messiah.  ¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work—what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss—he himself will be saved, but as through fire.

Your fruit will be examined by YAH’S fire on Judgement Day.

 

Ephesians 2:20-22 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

²⁰ You have been built on the foundation made up of the emissaries and prophets, with Messiah Yeshua Himself being the cornerstone. ^[a] 21 In Him the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple for the Lord. ²² In Him, you also are being built together into God’s dwelling place^[b] in the Ruach.

 

Matthew 7:24-27 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Building on a Firm Foundation

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and yet it did not fall, for its foundation had been built on the rock. ²⁶ Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

 

Sandyland – KID’S PRAISE (PSALTY)

 

If you desire verse 3 of Psalm 1 above to be fulfilled in your life (and not verse 4 of Psalm 1), then YAH’S/ELOHIM’S TORAH (which is also YAHUSHUA the MASHIACH/MESSIAH) has to be your best friend!!! See Joshua 1:8.

You also need to be in YAHUSHUA and YAHUSHUA in you! Sounds like repetition of the above statement and that is totally understanding. Perhaps Psalm 1 and John 15 explain each other.

 

John 15 Names of God Bible (NOG)

Jesus, the True Vine

15 Then Yeshua said, “I am the true vine, and my Father takes care of the vineyard. ² He removes every one of my branches that doesn’t produce fruit. He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit.

³ “You are already clean^[a] because of what I have told you. ⁴ Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.

⁵ “I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can’t produce anything without me. ⁶ Whoever doesn’t live in me is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Branches like this are gathered, thrown into a fire, and burned. ⁷ If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours. ⁸ You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples.

⁹ “I have loved you the same way the Father has loved me. So live in my love. ¹⁰ If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete. ¹² Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I’m commanding you to do. ¹³ The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you obey my commandments. ¹⁵ I don’t call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. But I’ve called you friends because I’ve made known to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father. ¹⁶ You didn’t choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for. ¹⁷ Love each other. This is what I’m commanding you to do.

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you had anything in common with the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But you don’t have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world, and that’s why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant isn’t greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they did what I said, they will also do what you say. ²¹ Indeed, they will do all this to you because you are committed to me, since they don’t know the one who sent me. ²² If I hadn’t come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t have any sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ The person who hates me also hates my Father. ²⁴ If I hadn’t done among them what no one else has done, they wouldn’t have any sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ In this way what is written in their Scriptures has come true: ‘They hate me for no reason.’

²⁶ “The helper whom I will send to you from the Father will come. This helper, the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, will declare the truth about me. ²⁷ You will declare the truth, too, because you have been with me from the beginning.”

 

Think about it:

ARE YOU PART TO THE TREE OF LIFE/VINE?

Are you really one of the branches or have you fallen off for some reason? Check yourself this Tu B’Shevat and rest of the week.

Are you producing good fruit for YAHUVEH ELOHIM?

Once you are planted into the Vine (a.k.a YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH) by the Gardener (ABBA YAHUVEH) and receive the RUACH HA KODESH (a.k.a SHKINYINYAH GLORY) as per Acts 2, then you are required to produce good fruit both physically and spiritually. The fruit include the following but not the only ones expected. Click here for more information on this subject.

Galatians 5:22-23 Names of God Bible (NOG)

²² But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that.

 

 

Tu B’Shevat also makes us remember and think about:

The TREE OF LIFE

 

as well as

The TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL

 

Genesis 2:9 Names of God Bible (NOG)

⁹ Yahweh Elohim made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.

 

Genesis 2:17 Names of God Bible (NOG)

¹⁷ But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

 

Click here for more information on this: The TWO TREES

 

 

 

 

Trees and Dreams

We can see trees in dreams and visions. When we do, we should pay close attention to such dreams so we do not pray amiss, that is to say pray aright!

 

 

Other Holy Biblical Scriptures that come to mind in relation to “Tu B’Shevat” are as follows:

Genesis 2:9

Yahweh Elohim made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.

Genesis 3:17

Then he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree, although I commanded you, ‘You must never eat its fruit.’ The ground is cursed because of you. Through hard work you will eat food that comes from it every day of your life.

Genesis 3:22

Then Yahweh Elohim said, “The man has become like one of us, since he knows good and evil. He must not reach out and take the fruit from the treeoflife and eat. Then he would live forever.”

Genesis 3:24

After he sent the man out, Elohim placed angels and a flaming sword that turned in all directions east of the Garden of Eden. He placed them there to guard the way to the tree of life.

Deuteronomy 19:5

Suppose two people go into the woods to cut wood. As one of them swings the ax to cut down a tree, the head flies of f the handle, hits, and kills the other person. The one who accidentally killed the other person may run to one of these cities and save his life.

Proverbs 3:18

Wisdom is a tree of life for those who take firm hold of it. Those who cling to it are blessed.

Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise.

Proverbs 13:12

Delayed hope makes one sick at heart, but a fulfilled longing is a tree of life.

Proverbs 15:4

A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.

Revelation 2:7

“Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the paradise of God, to everyone who wins the victory.

Revelation 22:2

Between the street of the city and the river there was a tree of life visible from both sides. It produced 12 kinds of fruit. Each month had its own fruit. The leaves of the tree will heal the nations.

Revelation 22:14

“Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:19

If anyone takes away any words from this book of prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book.

 

On “Tu B’Shevat,” it is also a good idea to read Daniel 4 which compares Nebuchadnezzar to an Oak Tree. Click here for more information on this.

 

The following scripture is useful to read in relation to Daniel 4 and Tu B’Shevat it talks about trees but really it is talking about mankind in the spiritual sense:

Job 14:7-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

 

The above Holy Scripture does not give us permission to just carry out deforestation anyhow or just cut down trees anyhow but rather offers a message of hope for those Children of YAHUVEH/YAHWEH ELOHIM who happened to fall by the way side or backslide and desire to be restored unto YAHUVEH ELOHIM or that their loved ones are praying for them earnestly to be restored unto YAHUVEH ELOHIM.

As a Jew, as a Gentile, are you Grafted in?

Romans 11:11-31 Names of God Bible (NOG)

¹¹ So I ask, “Has Israel stumbled so badly that it can’t get up again?” That’s unthinkable! By Israel’s failure, salvation has come to people who are not Jewish to make the Jewish people jealous. ¹² The fall of the Jewish people made the world spiritually rich. Their failure made people who are not Jewish spiritually rich. So the inclusion of Jewish people will make the world even richer.

¹³ Now, I speak to you who are not Jewish. As long as I am an apostle sent to people who are not Jewish, I bring honor to my ministry. ¹⁴ Perhaps I can make my people jealous and save some of them. ¹⁵ If Israel’s rejection means that the world has been brought back to God, what does Israel’s acceptance mean? It means that Israel has come back to life.

¹⁶ If the first handful of dough is holy, the whole batch of dough is holy. If the root is holy, the branches are holy. ¹⁷ But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree. ¹⁸ So don’t brag about being better than the other branches. If you brag, remember that you don’t support the root, the root supports you. ¹⁹ “Well,” you say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted onto the tree.” ²⁰ That’s right! They were broken off because they didn’t believe, but you remain on the tree because you do believe. Don’t feel arrogant, but be afraid. ²¹ If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you, either. ²² Look at how kind and how severe God can be. He is severe to those who fell, but kind to you if you continue to hold on to his kindness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off from the tree.

²³ If Jewish people do not continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted onto the tree again, because God is able to do that. ²⁴ In spite of the fact that you have been cut from a wild olive tree, you have been grafted onto a cultivated one. So wouldn’t it be easier for these natural branches to be grafted onto the olive tree they belong to?

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won’t become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God’s non-Jewish people are included. ²⁶ In this way Israel as a whole will be saved, as Scripture says,

“The Savior will come from Zion.
    He will remove godlessness from Jacob.
²⁷ My promise^[a] to them will be fulfilled
    when I take away their sins.”

²⁸ The Good News made the Jewish people enemies because of you. But by God’s choice they are loved because of their ancestors. ²⁹ God never changes his mind when he gives gifts or when he calls someone. ³⁰ In the past, you disobeyed God. But now God has been merciful to you because of the disobedience of the Jewish people. ³¹ In the same way, the Jewish people have also disobeyed so that God may be merciful to them as he was to you.

As a Jew, as a Gentile, are you Grafted in?

Happy Tu B’Shvat from AmightyWind!

(By Prophet Ezra of YAH’S Amightywind Ministry)

 

Also click here to learn more:

• https://yahushua-thechiefcornerstone.com/shabbat-shira-a-k-a-beshalach/

 

• https://yahushua-thechiefcornerstone.com/daniel-4-spiritual-significance-oak-trees-tu-bshevat-the-anti-messiah/

 

• https://yahushua-thechiefcornerstone.com/the-two-trees-tree-of-life-tree-of-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/

 

• https://yahushua-thechiefcornerstone.com/the-trees-mentioned-in-the-holy-biblical-scriptures/

Some more useful information might be added here.