Q. I truly do not understand, why in our Jewish tradition we celebrate a New Year for trees, that as important as they are, for us the elderly, and many others, our dear pets, dogs and cats, are actually essential for our survival, since for many of us they are the whole and only truly friendly company we have. Why not celebrate a New Year for them?

A. As mentioned in the last question above, the celebration of Tu Bishvat is all about the potential of our essential fruit trees to start their yearly early development for growing and giving fruits later on, already at that early time of the year.

That obviously does not apply to pet dogs and cats, as necessary they may be for some.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a