COMMENTARY
Tu B’shvat - New year for trees A personal lesson the tachunun (a supplication prayer said during weekdays, asking G-d for Rabbi forgiveness for our sins, but omitted on Jewish holidays). In addition, there Mendy are many customs associated with this Greenberg holiday; amongst them is eating fruits associated with the Land of Israel. The reason given is based on the Torah’s commandment not to chop king once announced a contest. down a fruit tree “because man is the tree Anyone who would manage to of the field.” We have many similarities swim across the pond in the royal to the trees, and as such, the birthday for palace courtyard would be given one of trees has an impact on our spiritual lives. three gifts: marry the king’s daughter, A tree’s primary components are the become prime minister or get half of the roots, which anchor it to the ground and king’s treasury. supply it with water and other nutrients; When the people have the first opporthe trunk, branches and leaves, which tunity to see the pond, they are bewilcomprise its body; and the fruit, which dered why the king would offer such a contains the seeds by which the tree generous gift for such an easy feat. reproduces itself. As they get closer, they realize the pond The spiritual life of man also includes is infested with crocodiles. roots, a body and fruit. The roots repreAs the countdown begins and people sent our faith — the source are anxious, they hear a of nurture and perseversplash and to everyone’s The trunk, branches amazement there is some“...man is the tree ance. and leaves are the body of one in the water. He manour spiritual lives — our of the field.” ages to miraculously escape intellectual, emotional and the claws of the crocs. practical achievements. When he makes it The fruit is our power of spiritual procreacross safely, the king asks him, do you ation — the power to influence others, to want to marry my daughter? plant a seed in a fellow human being and He responds, “No.” see it sprout, grow and bear fruit. “How about becoming prime minister We all have very strong roots. As or do you want half of the treasury?” members of the Jewish community, we Again, the answer is no. are descendants of the great patriarchs and “What do you want?” the king asks. matriarchs of Judaism; our grandparents “I want to know who in the world threw or great grandparents were people who me into the water?!” the man responds. were dedicated to Judaism and fought for This month, we will celebrate the it. Hence, we have the trunk, branches Jewish holiday of Tu B’shvat – the New and leaves and are all fit to produce Year for trees. (This year, it corresponds to beautiful fruit. When we get “thrown into the eve of Jan. 16 and the day of Jan. 17.) pond” whether through circumstances or This holiday is technically only a legal through our own choices, we are given the cut-off date for the biblical agricultural tools to rise to the challenge, navigate the laws of tithing in the Land of Israel “crocodile-infested waters” and manage to (the only consequence outside Israel is arrive safely and strongly. the 3-year injunction on consuming Rabbi Mendy Greenberg serves at fruit from a new tree). Chabad of Bonita Springs & Estero. However, this holiday is still celebrated by being more joyous and by omitting
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