Shevat

The fifteenth of Shevat is the New Year of Trees, the date from which the years of trees are counted for the purposes of orlah, neta revai, and tithes. From this date, the new fruits of the year begin to be counted. The Sages established this date because by the fifteenth of Shevat, most of the winter rains have passed, and the sap begins to rise in the trees, preparing for the new growth. In the Land of Israel, the almond tree is the first to blossom, signaling the awakening of the trees. The mitzvah of planting trees is also connected to the Land: 'When you come to the land and plant any tree for food' (Vayikra 19:23). Planting trees in the Land of Israel is a mitzvah in itself, and the fruits carry the sanctity of the Land.