The Jewish commemoration of the world’s trees–Tu B’Shevat–(also known as the birthday of the Tree of Life) falls on the full midwinter moon, this February 12th. If you care to celebrate this holiday with your children (who will be immediately responsive to the notion that trees are important) or if you are planning any kind of school presentation on the subject of trees, here’s the best resource. It’s the most spectacular website on trees I’ve ever seen (not that there are that many of them). It’s called Spiritoftrees.org, and here you’ll find folktales about trees from dozens of countries, as well as a long list of tree preservation groups and trusts. The site was created through the funds and spunk of storyteller/folklorist Cristy West.

Here are two web explanations of Tu B’Shevat, one on a site called “JewFAQ,” the other from a Beliefnet.com article by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of The Shalom Center.