On the 15th of Shevat, we celebrate the New Year of the trees. Celebrating Tu Bishvat reminds us of the Jewish people's connection to the land of Israel. In harmony with Israel, we show our love for the ancestral land, while rejoicing by enjoying good fruits, including the seven fruits of Israel (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, dates).
On the 15th of Shevat, we celebrate the New Year of the trees. Celebrating Tu Bishvat reminds us of the Jewish people's connection to the land of Israel. In harmony with Israel, we show our love for the ancestral land, while rejoicing by enjoying good fruits, including the seven fruits of Israel (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, olives, pomegranates, dates).
WHY ARE TREES AND FRUITS SO SPECIAL?In the Torah it is written (Devarim 20:19): "Ki ha'adam etz hasadeh" = man is compared to a tree of the field. Let's compare the anatomy of a tree and the body of a man - trunk = spine. This resemblance is particularly marked in the spiritual sense: The root is the faith which binds the Jew to his origin and which constantly provides him with his spiritual nourishment. The trunk represents the Torah and the Mitzvot. Just as the rings of a tree register growth - through years of drought and rain, fire and stillness - we must also continue to grow, despite and above all through the trials of life. The fruit, more than anything else justifying the existence of the tree, symbolizes the good deeds of man, those Mitzvot which benefit others as well as oneself, and which have in them the seed that produces similar good deeds. | WHY ARE TREES AND FRUITS SO SPECIAL?In the Torah it is written (Devarim 20:19): "Ki ha'adam etz hasadeh" = man is compared to a tree of the field. Let's compare the anatomy of a tree and the body of a man - trunk = spine. This resemblance is particularly marked in the spiritual sense: The root is the faith which binds the Jew to his origin and which constantly provides him with his spiritual nourishment. The trunk represents the Torah and the Mitzvot. Just as the rings of a tree register growth - through years of drought and rain, fire and stillness - we must also continue to grow, despite and above all through the trials of life. The fruit, more than anything else justifying the existence of the tree, symbolizes the good deeds of man, those Mitzvot which benefit others as well as oneself, and which have in them the seed that produces similar good deeds. |
The lesson to rememberLike the tree, we must produce fruits and seeds to create new trees and new fruits. We also need to exert a positive influence on our environment - our friends, acquaintances and anyone we meet - so that they too will bear "fruit". Likewise, we should avoid settling for our own Torah development and good deeds. The Torah is compared to water. Just as a tree needs water, a person needs the Torah in order to prosper and grow. It is important to expose children to Judaism from an early age, whether through pictures, songs or stories. As an adult, maintaining a certain level of Torah study and participation in Judaism is essential in our daily life. We all know how easy it can be to lose sight of the important things when we are surrounded by influences in our daily lives. A strong Jewish foundation can help avoid this confusion. Easy will you tell me? Not that simple. A tree takes work and investment to yield maximum fruit and reach its potential. Likewise, to be successful in uplifting the spiritual in my house, I must also invest myself and make the necessary efforts. |
The lesson to rememberLike the tree, we must produce fruits and seeds to create new trees and new fruits. We also need to exert a positive influence on our environment - our friends, acquaintances and anyone we meet - so that they too will bear "fruit". Likewise, we should avoid settling for our own Torah development and good deeds. The Torah is compared to water. Just as a tree needs water, a person needs the Torah in order to prosper and grow. It is important to expose children to Judaism from an early age, whether through pictures, songs or stories. As an adult, maintaining a certain level of Torah study and participation in Judaism is essential in our daily life. We all know how easy it can be to lose sight of the important things when we are surrounded by influences in our daily lives. A strong Jewish foundation can help avoid this confusion. Easy will you tell me? Not that simple. A tree takes work and investment to yield maximum fruit and reach its potential. Likewise, to be successful in uplifting the spiritual in my house, I must also invest myself and make the necessary efforts. |
| "When I was 12 (not that long ago ...), I was stung by the 'plant seed'. I still remember telling my family that very soon I would be serving them a salad from my garden. The next day, I took my savings and went to buy cucumber seeds. That evening I threw the seeds on the small patch of soil on my balcony and every day I ran home from school to harvest my vegetables. Unfortunately, after a few weeks… I was still empty-handed. Meanwhile, my neighbor had dozens of tomatoes growing and I couldn't understand what she was doing better than me. I put my ego aside and decided to go ask him about his secret. Imagine my surprise when she explained to me that to harvest food you have to work hard: planting, watering, cutting, picking and talking to your crops. I then took my courage in both hands and set to work. After a few weeks, I was finally able to serve a (very small) cucumber salad to my sisters. " | "When I was 12 (not that long ago ...), I was stung by the 'plant seed'. I still remember telling my family that very soon I would be serving them a salad from my garden. The next day, I took my savings and went to buy cucumber seeds. That evening I threw the seeds on the small patch of soil on my balcony and every day I ran home from school to harvest my vegetables. Unfortunately, after a few weeks… I was still empty-handed. Meanwhile, my neighbor had dozens of tomatoes growing and I couldn't understand what she was doing better than me. I put my ego aside and decided to go ask him about his secret. Imagine my surprise when she explained to me that to harvest food you have to work hard: planting, watering, cutting, picking and talking to your crops. I then took my courage in both hands and set to work. After a few weeks, I was finally able to serve a (very small) cucumber salad to my sisters. " |
What about our relations?Years later, married and mom, I realize that the same lessons apply in my relationship. If I want my husband and children to “bloom” and achieve their potential, I have to get involved in the relationship. A relationship, whether with a friend, sibling, parent, or especially a spouse, only exists as long as life is breathed into it. Like any other living creation, a relationship reacts to what it is nourished by. Water feeds a tree, but too much water drowns it ... sunshine and fertilizers are also needed to help it flourish. Likewise, harsh words and condemnation bring conflict and discord; kindness and tenderness bring tranquility and peace. Marriage becomes what a husband and wife make it become! Much of the talk we hear about the Shalom Bayit is often abstract, like an ideal that we will never achieve. The important thing to remember is that we, and we alone, are responsible for our relationship. We have control and responsibility for our success: what we do and what we don't do; how we act towards our spouses, what are our expectations, what our attitudes say; how much we give; how much we take and how much we refuse to take. |
What about our relations?Years later, married and mom, I realize that the same lessons apply in my relationship. If I want my husband and children to “bloom” and achieve their potential, I have to get involved in the relationship. A relationship, whether with a friend, sibling, parent, or especially a spouse, only exists as long as life is breathed into it. Like any other living creation, a relationship reacts to what it is nourished by. Water feeds a tree, but too much water drowns it ... sunshine and fertilizers are also needed to help it flourish. Likewise, harsh words and condemnation bring conflict and discord; kindness and tenderness bring tranquility and peace. Marriage becomes what a husband and wife make it become! Much of the talk we hear about the Shalom Bayit is often abstract, like an ideal that we will never achieve. The important thing to remember is that we, and we alone, are responsible for our relationship. We have control and responsibility for our success: what we do and what we don't do; how we act towards our spouses, what are our expectations, what our attitudes say; how much we give; how much we take and how much we refuse to take. |
| If the tree is not watered, it will dry up and bear no fruit. If the sun does not show, the harvest will be poor, if not nonexistent. I have to make sure that the roots I create are deep and well established in the event of a storm. Trees don't just provide immediate benefits like shade, wood, and food; they also enrich the ecosystem, filter the air and release oxygen. Likewise, when I invest in my marriage and my relationships with my children, I create a lasting impact on the world that will bring us closer to ultimate redemption. Happy TouBishvat! Sarah Perets . | If the tree is not watered, it will dry up and bear no fruit. If the sun does not show, the harvest will be poor, if not nonexistent. I have to make sure that the roots I create are deep and well established in the event of a storm. Trees don't just provide immediate benefits like shade, wood, and food; they also enrich the ecosystem, filter the air and release oxygen. Likewise, when I invest in my marriage and my relationships with my children, I create a lasting impact on the world that will bring us closer to ultimate redemption. Happy TouBishvat! Sarah Perets . |
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