When Should We Celebrate Tu BiShvat?

A question posed about 100 years ago to a Rabbi by Jews living in Buenos Aires is the topic this week. Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner, Rosh Beit Midrash of YU Zichron Dov in Toronto, explains why we celebrate Tu BiShevat, the so-called Birthday of the Trees, halfway into the month of Shevat to coincide with the rainy season. While this is during winter for just the northern half the planet, it's not when trees bloom in countries of the Southern hemisphere where plenty of Jews live.