Tu B'Shvat, the fifteenth day of Shvat, is the New Year for trees. In many countries it seems strange to celebrate the rebirth of trees in the middle of winter. But in the Land of Israel the rainy season has just ended and buds are beginning to appear on the trees.

We eat fruits and nuts on Tu B'Shvat. We especially try to eat the fruits for which the Torah praises the Land of Israel. The Torah describes the Land of Israel as a good land, "a land of . . . vines, figs, and pomegranates . . . olives and sweet dates." So on Tu B'Shvat we eat grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.

We also eat fruit that we haven't eaten during the year so we can say the blessing Shehechiyanu. In that blessing we thank God for keeping us alive and healthy as a part of His world until this day. Some people have the custom to pray on Tu B'Shvat that God provide them with a beautiful, kosher etrog for the next year's Succot holiday.