Happy Jewish Barbecue Day!
by Lurker
For those who aren’t aware, today is the 1st day of Elul, which is a very special and important day on the Jewish calendar:
It is the New Year’s Day for Animals.
The first mishna in tractate Rosh HaShana teaches that there are four days in the year that are regarded as New Year’s Days. Each one is considered a cut-off point that begins a new year for certain specific respective purposes in Jewish law:
The 1st of Nisan is the New Year’s Day for dating the reigns of kings, and for caclulating the cycles of festivals.
The 1st of Tishrei is the New Year’s Day for calculating calendrical years, shemitot (sabbatical years), and yovelot (jubilee years), as well as for planting (with regard to the law of orla), and for the ma’aser (tithing) of vegetables.
The 15th of Shevat is the New Year’s Day for the ma’aser of (fruit) trees.
The 1st of Elul (today) is the New Year’s Day for the ma’aser of animals.On the New Year’s Day for the tithing of fruit trees — commonly referred to as Tu B’Shevat — it is customary to celebrate by eating fruits grown in the Land of Israel.
And thus, in the exact same way, it is certainly most fitting to celebrate the New Year’s Day for the tithing of animals — today — by eating meat grown in the land of Israel.
So happy New Year’s Day!
And enjoy your barbecues!
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