This past Wednesday we celebrated the 15th of Shevat / New Year for the Trees
It is hard to think about trees and lush vegetation in the middle of the Winter. Yet TU B'Shevat, the 15th of Shevat is smack in the middle of the winter, and yes that is when we celebrate the New Year for the Trees.
"Man is the Tree of the Field" says the Torah. This phrase is often explained in Jewish and specifically Chassidic teachings as follows.
ROOTS: We should have deep spiritual roots which can nourish us properly and help us stand tall even when faced with storms and winds that sometimes come our way.
TRUNK: Have a robust life of growth that continuously develops and never ceases to keep aiming higher.
SAPLING: We make sure to nurture young saplings as if it grows straight and right at a young age, it will be on a great path going forward as it grows big.
LEAVES & FRUIT: We should aim to study and do good deeds which are ultimately one of the purposes of the Tree, and which will then have the ability to cause other things to grow too.
FALL & WINTER: Sometimes we may not be producing so much, yet the dormant time can become a springboard for re-energizing and preparing to bloom with a new round of lush growth.
As we think about the New Year for the Trees, let us take a moment and think about the Human Trees that are our own lives or the little saplings we have been entrusted to take care of and nurture.
I took the picture of the Pomegranate in Israel this past summer on a lush hillside in the Judean Hills which used to be barren but was no brought to life by some very good friends of ours.
Good Shabbos / Shabbat Shalom
Yisroel