A Blue-Chrome Sky | An Israeli Poem - 27 December, 2025 A blue-chrome sky The rain, or rather the on-and-off deluge, has polished the skies to a bright chrome. Large clouds strive to hide our solid sun but the light pace like a hidden metronome Flood-filled grays tried its best to reign But the blue would often glow through Or at least sent a few bright rays Turning the storm clouds a lighter hue Dark and charcoal and ash-grey colours With loud noise and scary-looking shadows Eventually fracture over our ancient hilltops In Israel the melody of light never stops. Flood-filled grays tried its best to reign But the blue would often glow through Or at least sent a few bright rays Turning the storm clouds a lighter hue In Israel the melody of light never stops Zichron Yaakov, 27 December, 2025
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| An olive tree with Haifa harbor in the background and my youngest playing around with her red balloon . |
A birthday for trees?
Yes, in Israel, the Jewish date of Tu b’Shevat (the 15th of the month Shevat) is
considered to be the New Year of trees. Trees do not get individual birthdays
like humans – that would be a bit too much! Instead all of the trees are
considered to be one year older after Tu b’Shevat. This collective birthdate is usually described
as the trees’ New Year.
Why should one know how old a tree then?
It is a totally Jewish thing. According to Jewish law, fruit can only be eaten from a tree in its’ fifth year. The fruit of the first three years are forbidden, and in later years various tithes (10% of the produce) have to be given. So it is necessary to know how old a tree is – especially fruit trees.
It is a totally Jewish thing. According to Jewish law, fruit can only be eaten from a tree in its’ fifth year. The fruit of the first three years are forbidden, and in later years various tithes (10% of the produce) have to be given. So it is necessary to know how old a tree is – especially fruit trees.
How do you celebrate a tree’s birthday?
By eating fruit of course! Usually dried fruit - Tu b’Shevat is in the winter and though some trees have started to blossom, fresh produce is not available.
Religious Jews have a Tu b’Shevat Seder and recite special prayers at Tu b’Shevat . You can read more about the religious insights of this holiday at Aish.com
Secular Israelis have adopted Tu b’Shevat as Arbor Day and trees are planted in various ceremonies all over the country. You can read more about the tree planting activities and environmental programs at KKL – the government body in charge of forests here in Israel.
And what did my kids and I do on Tu b’Shevat ?
It is not a big holiday so the schools and work places did not close. My youngest had a Dried Fruit – party in her class and made art work with twigs and leaves.
By eating fruit of course! Usually dried fruit - Tu b’Shevat is in the winter and though some trees have started to blossom, fresh produce is not available.
Religious Jews have a Tu b’Shevat Seder and recite special prayers at Tu b’Shevat . You can read more about the religious insights of this holiday at Aish.com
Secular Israelis have adopted Tu b’Shevat as Arbor Day and trees are planted in various ceremonies all over the country. You can read more about the tree planting activities and environmental programs at KKL – the government body in charge of forests here in Israel.
And what did my kids and I do on Tu b’Shevat ?
It is not a big holiday so the schools and work places did not close. My youngest had a Dried Fruit – party in her class and made art work with twigs and leaves.
My eldest had a class trip to one of the parks in our town
where they studied the various trees there. And in the afternoon I went for a
little hike in a nearby forest.
The trees did not offer me cake or anything but I still had a great time. They are so gracefully about getting old, happy about the heavy winter rains and already preparing themselves for spring.
The trees did not offer me cake or anything but I still had a great time. They are so gracefully about getting old, happy about the heavy winter rains and already preparing themselves for spring.
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| Two large ficus trees in a park near my house. They must be quite old - but I did not dare ask them their age! |
Happy Tu b’Shevat everyone!
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