Tu Bishvat: An Elevated Seder

Tu Bishvat,  aka the Jewish New Year for the Trees is the holiday for plant lovers, environmentalists, and, let’s be honest, the most 420-friendly moment on the Jewish calendar. If you’ve ever looked at your Tree of Life necklace and thought, "this tree deserves a little more love," Tu Bishvat is your holiday. But what if we take it up a notch? What if your Tu Bishvat Seder wasn’t just a celebration of trees  but a way to fully embrace them? Let’s talk about how to elevate your Tu Bishvat Seder — literally.

Wait, Isn’t a Seder for Passover?

Sure, when most people hear “Seder,” they think of Passover—grape juice, bitter herbs, dry-ass matzah and your uncle’s never-ending rant about how things were different in his day, but “Seder” is the Hebrew word for “order.”

Jewish mystics in Tzfat were cool enough to come up with one for Tu Bishvat: a chill, fruity feast paired with four cups of wine, deep thoughts, and, if you’re doing it right, some righteous herb. Think of it as Passover’s chiller, more plant-forward, higher cousin.

How to Get Lit for Tu Bishvat:

Tu Bishvat is all about trees, growth, and getting in touch with nature. And what better way to do that than enhancing the experience with a little green? Here’s how to take your Seder to new heights:

Pair Your Fruits with the Right Strains:

The Tu Bishvat Seder traditionally includes different kinds of fruits—soft ones, hard-shelled ones, and fully edible ones, symbolizing different layers of the physical and spiritual world. Why not pair them with some thoughtfully chosen strains?

Figs & Dates (Sweet & Earthy) → Indica Strains: A relaxing Northern Lights or Granddaddy Purple pairs well with these ancient fruits and their grounding energy.

Pomegranates & Grapes (Juicy & Tart) → Sativa Strains: Try a citrusy Super Lemon Haze or Sour Diesel to complement their bright, uplifting flavors.

Olives & Nuts (Rich & Complex) → Hybrid Strains: Balance them out with a Blue Dream or Gelato—because much like olives, the best things take a little time to hit.

Make a cannabis Infused Charoset

Passover has its own iconic fruit-and-nut mix, so why not give Tu Bishvat a lift with some cannabis-infused charoset? Chop up some apples, dates, walnuts, and cinnamon, drizzle in some weed honey, and boom—you’ve got a sticky, sweet, THC-packed treat.

Sip on Cannawine

The Tu Bishvat Seder involves drinking four cups of wine, moving from white to red to symbolize the changing seasons. If alcohol isn’t your vibe, consider a cannabis-infused wine alternative. Many dispensaries now carry infused beverages, or you can DIY it with a simple weed-infused grape juice—just make sure it’s legal where you are, Rabbi.

Meditate with Trees (Or Just Stare at One for a While)

One of the most beautiful parts of Tu Bishvat is the reminder that trees are living, breathing symbols of resilience. After a few enhanced moments, step outside, touch a tree, and take a few deep breaths. Whether you call it mindfulness or just vibing with a ficus, it’s all good.

Toke and Talk Torah

The Kabbalists believed that Tu Bishvat was a time to connect with divine energy through nature. And while we’re pretty sure they weren’t passing joints in the Tzfat yeshiva, discussing tradition and torah with a joint isn’t a new idea. Try a study session on:

• The Tree of Life in Kabbalah: Literal tree? Cosmic metaphor? Or both?
• The Torah’s take on plants: Are we just now catching up to what our ancestors already knew?
• The ethics of weed in Jewish law: Would Moses have toked up on Sinai if he had the chance?
  

Tu Bishvat is about appreciating the natural world in all its beauty. Whether that means sipping wine, eating delicious fruits, or enjoying the more herbaceous gifts of creation, this holiday is a perfect time to reflect, reconnect, and maybe, just maybe, get a little higher in your spiritual journey.

Tu Bishvat is about celebrating nature, growth, and, let’s be honest, trees. So whether that means drinking wine, eating delicious fruits, or sparking up some holy herb, this holiday is the perfect time to reflect, reconnect, and get blissfully, spiritually, and physically high.