This Tu Bishvat, don’t grow up, grow down!Federation Star - February 2023

Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

The Jewish calendar truly has a holiday for everyone. This month, Shvat is a winner with the nature enthusiasts. Tu Bishvat, celebrated as the birthday of the trees, marks the day when fruit trees begin to blossom in Israel for the first time since Rosh Hashana. Personally, my Tu Bishvat came early this year, in a mystical sort of way. Let me explain — Tu Bishvat doesn’t just celebrate the trees growing outside, but also compares people to trees, and reminds us to celebrate our own personal growth and our steadfast roots.

Trees are most vulnerable when they’re small, or even before they grow. While scratching a fully grown tree won’t really affect it, a seed with a scratch or blemish will struggle to grow evenly and to produce healthy fruit. While a larger tree may be able to handle it, too much rain could drown a seedling entirely, and too little will completely dry it out. A small sapling in its first three years needs attentive loving care, with just the right amount of sun and water, and not too much windy turbulence — but not too little either, or it won’t grow roots.

Our small children are the same. In their early years, they are most impressionable, and every bit of care matters a millionfold. A good early childhood education prepares a person for the world in a way that nothing else can. I learn this every day from my wife, Ettie, who directs the Preschool of the Arts.

While some people mistake preschool for simple babysitting, Ettie puts unbelievable thought and love into the education of the small children in her school, taking every detail into consideration, and understanding every child’s unique needs. I often sit in awe, just observing the incredible work that she puts into each activity and lesson. And it shows — anyone who walks into the classroom can feel it in the ambience. Just the right amount of rain, sunshine and calming breeze to grow strong and healthy trees.

So, how did my Tu Bishvat come early? At Chabad Naples & Preschool of the Arts, we just completed phase two of the “Let’s Grow” campaign to raise funds for construction of a brand-new preschool building, complete with innovative communal spaces. Over 500 community members contributed, showing that they, too, understand the very particular needs of our littlest trees.

Now, life is not without its hard times. Just like trees, we people need strong roots. In fact, we don’t just need the roots in place, we need to know they are there, so we feel ready when the strong winds come. Our roots come from our ancestors and teachers of the past who weathered strong storms themselves and taught us how to do the same.

When we feel that life’s challenges are becoming too strong and the storm too frightening, that’s when we need to look back at our roots. Remember that they’re holding us tight and cheering us on, because they know that we can do it, just like they did years before. We learn from their experiences, breathe in their wisdom, then stand grounded in our place, even when everything seems to be going the other way.

While we do our best to protect our children from the harsh realities of this world, we also must teach them about their roots, and give them the confidence to connect with that deep internal strength. Tu Bishvat is the perfect time to sit down with our children and teach them about their roots with stories of our heroes and role models from our past.

We’re securing building permits for our new state-of-the-art preschool building and gathering spaces and have entered the final phase of our “Let’s Grow” campaign. In the meantime, to everyone who inspired me this Tu Bishvat, and who help care for our little trees to make a better world in the future — I salute you.

Rabbi Zaklos Fishel serves at Chabad Jewish Center of Naples.