The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Monday, February 6, 2023—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. Commonly known as Tu Bishvat, this day marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.
We mark the 15th of Shevat by eating fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. On this day we remember that “man is a tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19), and reflect on the lessons we can derive from our botanical analogue. Read more about 15 Shevat
(Taken from Chabad.org)
Today is the day!! Shmitta is over, our farmers can plant again, and YOU can take part in planting the first fruits in Israel!
Hashem promises to bless those who help keep the מצוות התלויות בארץ
"I will Ordain my Blessing for you" וְצִוִּ֤יתִי אֶת־בִּרְכָתִי֙ לָכֶ֔ם
(Leviticus 25:21 ויקרא)
R. Yochanan Ben Zakai said over 2,000 years ago:
"If you find out Mashiach (The Messiah) has finally arrived while you are holding a tree, plant the tree first, only THEN can you greet Mashiach." אִם הָיְתָה נְטִיעָה בְּתוֹךְ יָדָךְ וְיֹאמְרוּ לָּךְ "הֲרֵי לָךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ", בּוֹא וּנְטַע אֶת הַנְטִיעָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ צֵא וְהַקְבִּילוֹ
(אבות דרבי נתן ל"א ב)
The Great G"RA from Villna; sent students to Israel in the 1800's and told them.
"If only Hashem would grant me the merit to plant a FRUIT tree in Jerusalem, I can fulfill the commandment"
“When you come to the land Plant FRUIT Trees (וְכִי תָבֹאוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם כָּל עֵץ מַאֲכָל (ויקרא יט"
https://israeltrees.org/