February 13, 2025
Dear Friends,
Today is Tu b’Shvat, what the Mishna calls the New Year for the trees. This is not a holiday I usually think about a great deal, although I have fond memories of all of those tree certificates from the Jewish National Fund symbolizing the trees “I” planted in Israel.
This morning, on my wet and snowy walk through the nature center, I took special notice of the trees. My two favorite seeds of rabbinic Jewish tree wisdom popped into my head. Some of you probably know them.
In the first story, someone brings news that the messiah has arrived at the city gate. If one happens to be planting a tree when they hear this news, the tradition tells us to continue planting the tree before going to greet the messiah.
The second story tells of an old man planting a tree in the hot sun. A Roman officer happens by and cynically points out that the old man will be long dead before the tree bears any fruit. The old man gently replies, “I plant this tree now so that my grandchildren can eat its fruit.”
This year on this Tu b’Shvat in particular these two bits of rabbinic lore brought tears to my eyes and a bit of uplift to my soul. The news, to be sure, is brutal out there. We are lured to be caught up in the dizzying headlines being thrown at us. The first story reminds us that we stay true to the task at hand no matter what the headline—even the messiah. The second story tells us that we are in it for the long term. We have been in the game for over 3,000 years and our roots are deep enough, strong enough, wise enough to withstand any current cynical onslaught.
There is more. The tree in Jewish literature is also a metaphor. The Torah is a Tree of Life; we sing each and every time we return the Torah to the ark. These stories are telling us to keep studying and living by Torah no matter what the dominant power of the day may be shouting at us.
When we say, “Temple Micah is here for all of us,” this is what we mean. We will keep planting and nurturing those trees.
Happy Tu b’Shvat,
Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel