Tu B’shvat - New year for trees

A personal lesson

Rabbi Mendy Greenberg

A king once announced a contest. Anyone who would manage to swim across the pond in the royal palace courtyard would be given one of three gifts: marry the king’s daughter, become prime minister or get half of the king’s treasury.

When the people have the first opportunity to see the pond, they are bewildered why the king would offer such a generous gift for such an easy feat.

As they get closer, they realize the pond is infested with crocodiles.

As the countdown begins and people are anxious, they hear a splash and to everyone’s amazement there is someone in the water. He manages to miraculously escape the claws of the crocs.

When he makes it across safely, the king asks him, do you want to marry my daughter?

He responds, “No.” “

How about becoming prime minister or do you want half of the treasury?”

Again, the answer is no.

“What do you want?” the king asks.

“I want to know who in the world threw me into the water?!” the man responds.

This month, we will celebrate the Jewish holiday of Tu B’shvat – the New Year for trees. (This year, it corresponds to the eve of Jan. 16 and the day of Jan. 17.)

This holiday is technically only a legal cut-off date for the biblical agricultural laws of tithing in the Land of Israel (the only consequence outside Israel is the 3-year injunction on consuming fruit from a new tree).

However, this holiday is still celebrated by being more joyous and by omitting