“Man is a tree of the field”(deutoromy 20:19), and the Jewish calendar reserves one day each year to celebrate the New Year for trees.
Tonight and tomorrow we celebrate Tu B’Shevat on the 15th of Shevat.
This day is celebrated for us to contemplate our affinity with our botanical friend and what it can teach us of our own lives.
The tree is composed of roots, a trunk, branches,foliage and fruit. In the same way our spiritual being is also composed of roots, a body,and fruit.
The roots represent faith, our source of nurture and perseverance. The trunk, branches, and leaves are the “body” of our spiritual lives-our intellect, emotions, and practical achievements. The fruit is our power of spiritual procreation- our Mitzvahs- which plant a seed in a fellow human being and see it sprout, grow and bear fruit.
There is a story in the Talmud of a man that sat under a tree to rest. After he was rested he said “I want to give you a blessing, but what can I wish for you if you are magnificent?”Then he said: “Your fruit should bear trees more magnificent than you!”
May all the good deeds we bring into this world bring even more good deeds and the deeds we plant should grow into beautiful offspring.
For more information on Tu B’Shevat go to www.livealittlehigher.com.
Shabbat Shalom
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