The 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat (which falls on Thursday February 13, 2025 this week) is called Tu B’Shvat. It is the cut-off date in the Hebrew calendar for calculating the age of a fruit-bearing tree.
Each tree is considered to have its “birthday” on the 15th of the month of Shvat. This means if you planted a tree a few weeks before Tu B’Shvat, it begins its second year on Tu B’Shvat. Whereas a tree planted after that time does not reach its second year until the following Tu B’Shvat.
When you enter the land and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden for you, not to be eaten.
We make our Galilee Green Olive Oil from olives that are harvested from trees that are in their fourth year or older.
Many people will plant fruit-bearing trees in the weeks before Tu B’Shvat. There are a number of other customs on the actual day of Tu B Shvat.
Most people in Israel and abroad will enjoy fruits… particularly fruits from Israel on this day. They show their appreciation of this blessing from God by reciting a bracha (blessing) over the fruits. The special fruits of Israel include: Dates, Olives, Grapes, Figs and Pomegranates.
Learn more about the ABC’s of this special day here.
5 Comments
David Kessell · February 12, 2025 at 7:25 pm
I am absolutely certain the olive trees giving your wonderful olive oil are at least 4 years old. What about the citrus blossom honey? How can you be sure the bees know how old the bushes and trees are? The taste is amazing so it’s got to be kosher but how so the bees know?
This is a semi serious question.???
Mr John Doe · February 12, 2025 at 11:24 pm
That’s an interesting question and first I’d like to say I’m not an authority on this or have any credentials.
I would say that yes it is kosher because it’s the flowers and not the fruit that the bees are interested in and not the fruit and the law on this concerns the fruit and not the flowers that the bees get their materials from to make honey.
I’m sure they’re can be a better more in-depth answer to your question but after I read it and thought about it that is what I concluded and that was good enough answer for me.
Shmuel · February 13, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Orla (not benefitting from the FRUIT of a tree that is three years old or younger) only applies to the fruit of the tree. You may not derive ANY benefit from the fruit which would include enjoying the scent of the fruit without eating it. Orla does NOT apply to the tree, or its leaves or its blossoms. So it is no problem for the bees to use the flowers to help them make honey.
Shmuel · February 13, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Your answer was absolutely correct!
Shmuel · February 13, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Orla (not benefitting from the FRUIT of a tree that is three years old or younger) only applies to the fruit of the tree. You may not derive ANY benefit from the fruit which would include enjoying the scent of the fruit without eating it. Orla does NOT apply to the tree, or its leaves or its blossoms. So it is no problem for the bees to use the flowers to help them make honey.