Shevat: A Month of Spiritual Growth and Blossoming Potential

The month of Shevat is the fifth month from Creation and the eleventh month in the Torah’s count from the Exodus. Though mentioned only once in the Bible, “On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shevat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah…” (Zechariah 1:7), this month carries layers of meaning that span language, agriculture, and spiritual symbolism.

The name Shevat, like all Hebrew month names, came from Babylonia. In Akkadian, the term Šabatu is related to storms, referencing the strong winds typical of this time of year. Others link the name to the Hebrew root shevet (branch or staff), pointing to the natural budding of trees during this month. In fact, one plant known as Shevatbat has branch-like stems that resemble scepters. Some Jewish commentators interpret the name as an acronym for the Hebrew words: “Sh’nitbaser Besorot Tovot” ("May we be blessed with good tidings"). 

The lunar month of Shevat always has thirty days. On Rosh Chodesh Shevat, Moshe began his final address to the Israelites, a speech that spanned from the first of Shevat until his death on the seventh of Adar. As it says in Deuteronomy: “In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moshe spoke to all Israel concerning everything that God had commanded him to say to them” (Deuteronomy 1:3).

The most well-known date in the month is Tu B'Shevat (the 15th of Shevat), celebrated as the New Year for Trees. According to Beit Shammai, it falls on the first of the month. This date determines how fruits are tithed (whether they belong to the previous agricultural year or the new one), since produce from one year may not be used to tithe for another. Fruit that begins to bud after Tu B'Shevat is considered part of the new year's crop (Mishnah, Rosh Hashanah 1:1).

The Zodiac of the Month and the Flowing Waters of Torah

Shevat’s zodiac sign is Aquarius (D’li in Hebrew), based on the verse: “Water will flow from his buckets” (Numbers 24:7). This reflects the end of the rainy season, a time when water gathers in cisterns and is drawn with buckets to nourish trees and new plantings.

The bucket also alludes to the sacred task of drawing “living water," a metaphor for Torah, from the wells of our ancestors. Interestingly, the Hebrew word d’li (bucket) shares the same letters as yeled (child), hinting at the power of Shevat to nourish the spiritual legacy of future generations through Torah learning and mitzvah observance.

Shevat marks a turning point in the agricultural year, when the earth begins to awaken. Fruit trees, especially citrus, begin to blossom, and wildflowers bloom in vibrant colors that brighten the landscape and lift the heart.

A Chassidic Lens on Shevat: Roots, Growth, and Bearing Fruit

The founder of Chassidism, Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, taught that all of creation is infused with Divine purpose and spiritual energy. Even inanimate objects, plants, and animals are sustained every moment by the word of God. One of Chassidut’s core messages is that every physical phenomenon, great or small, is guided by Divine providence and reveals a spiritual lesson.

Tu B'Shevat, the New Year for Trees, offers such an opportunity for reflection. When we observe a tree, we can uncover profound guidance for how to live. A tree consists of three essential parts: roots, the visible body (trunk, branches, leaves), and fruit.

The roots are hidden from sight, yet they are the foundation of the tree’s life. A tree with deep, strong roots need not fear the storm. The visible body (trunk, branches, and leaves) represents the majority of the tree’s form, its tangible presence in the world, constantly growing in height and strength. But the tree’s ultimate purpose lies in its fruits, which carry seeds and ensure future generations.

So too, the life of a person mirrors these elements. Roots symbolize faith, the hidden spiritual wellspring from which a person draws strength. The deeper the roots of belief, the more resilient the soul becomes and the better able to withstand turbulent winds and ideological challenges.

The trunk and branches are the person’s Torah study, mitzvot, and good deeds, the substance of a Jewish life, built day by day. And yet, a person only achieves true spiritual completion when they bear fruit, when they inspire and influence others to live with faith, values, and purpose. Those who cultivate others to become like strong, rooted trees, grounded in belief, rich in action, and fruitful in their influence, create a legacy that endures for generations.