Sterna's Studies

Sterna tells us of Tu B'Shevat 2017-Friday February 10-saturday February 11The 15th of Shevat is the New Year for Trees, known as Tu b'Shevat.According to Biblical law, there is a seven year agricultural cycle, concluding with the Sabbatical year. When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, on years one, two, four and five of this cycle, farmers were required to separate a tenth of their produce and eat it in Jerusalem. This tithe is called Maaser Sheni, the Second Tithe, because it is in addition to the (two percent which must be given to the Kohain, and the) ten percent which is given to the Levite. On the third and sixth years of the cycle, instead of the owners eating the Maaser Sheni in Jerusalem, they gave this second tithe to the poor, who were permitted to consume it wherever they wished.It takes approximately four months for the rains of the new year to saturate the soil and trees, and produce fruit[On the Sabbatical year, no tithes are separated. All produce which grows during this year is ownerless an