Torah Portion - February 5, 2009

The Torah states that fruit from trees which were grown in the land of Israel may not be eaten during the first three years; the fourth year's fruit is for G-d, and after that, the fruit can be eaten. Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B'Shvat, no matter when in the year it was planted.

 

It is customary to plant trees and partake of the fruits of the land of Israel to mark the occasion.  Tu B'Shvat is the New Year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing (giving 1/10 of your bounty).

 

I always loved Tu B'Shvat.  It may have to do with my camping/Boy Scout background as this holiday forms a direct connection between humans and trees (i.e., nature).  I also remember the first Earth Day – Rachel Carson's Silent Spring  - and the awareness of how we have impacted our natural world.  Global warming and Al Gore are issues for today.  As is protecting the world as shown in the beautiful movie "Planet Earth." 

 

Today, we have particular sensitivity towards the earth and its limited resources and our role as "stewards" of those resources.  We no longer have to be convinced of it.  And of course Beth Or's "Jews in the Woods" customary campout, our gardens and setting reminds us each and every time we enter our prayer-place, especially from the back door as we hear the water fountain's soothing sound.

 

The holiday was established as one of four new years – (1) the first of Nisan – first Hebrew month; (2) first of Elul – for prescribed donations of 1/10; (3) first of Tishrei – Rosh Hashanah; and (4) the 15th of Shvat – Tu B'Shvat).

 

The holiday also connects us to the Land of Israel.  On this day, our rabbis knew that by the 15th of Shvat, most of the annual rainfall in Israel ends.  Therefore, the trees have, by and large, used up the water from the earlier year's rainfall and begin absorbing the water of the New Year.  As such, the fruit of these trees that blossom after this date are considered produce for purposes of tithing (The Jewish Way, Irving Greenberg, p. 418).

 

To understand this cycle in such detail is to understand how connected we are to the Land of Israel.  Little blue boxes of the Jewish National Fund populated our homes and funds given served to forest and beautify the land which we inherit today.

 

It’s a great holiday – join us on Shabbat for an early Tu B'Shvat Seder (7pm – garden tour by Marcy; 7:30pm Seder begins). 

 

And be nice to your trees.

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Rabbi Mark S. Kram