Repairing the World on Tu B'Shvat - 2
Tu B’shvat Traditions
“For as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people.” (Isaiah 65:22)
Because today is associated with the harvest of fruit in Israel, Orthodox Jews are praying that God will grant beautiful etrogs (citrons) for the coming Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). Various superstitions regarding fruit developed among the Sephardic (eastern oriental Jewish) communities including that of the Kurdistani Jews who placed sweet fruits like raisins in rings around trees, and would pray for an abundant fruit season. Barren women would even plant raisins near trees or embrace them at night, while praying that they would have children. Young girls were sometimes wedded to trees in mock ceremonies in the hope that they would soon find a groom.
In Persia, Jews lowered empty baskets down chimneys to have them return laden with fruit.
Baskets of fruit (Photo Go Israel)
Tu B’shvat and Repairing the World
“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30)
Tu B’shvat is not only associated with the giving of the priestly tithe, but also with giving to the poor.
This special day is mentioned in the Mishnah where emphasis is on social tikkun olam [the repairing or perfecting of the world]. The issue being considered is the nature of poverty: “the poor shall never cease out of the land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11) While there might not be a complete solution to poverty, it is possible to alleviate it through tikkun. For this reason, the rabbis required that a portion of the fruit gathered from one’s garden be reserved for those who have no garden. In creating this innovation, the sages were relating to the priestly concepts of tithing and terumot (heave offerings), although the Bible provides for charitable giving to the poor no specific day is named for doing this. In fact, today Leket Israel, the National Food Bank, has volunteers across the country picking excess fruit from private gardens for the needy. “It is a wonderful opportunity to involve the youth in a hands-on activity to benefit those less fortunate and to mark Tu B'shvat, the celebration of the trees in a truly meaningful way,” Joseph Gitler, Leket Israel’s founder and chairman said.
“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30)
Tu B’shvat is not only associated with the giving of the priestly tithe, but also with giving to the poor.
This special day is mentioned in the Mishnah where emphasis is on social tikkun olam [the repairing or perfecting of the world]. The issue being considered is the nature of poverty: “the poor shall never cease out of the land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11) While there might not be a complete solution to poverty, it is possible to alleviate it through tikkun. For this reason, the rabbis required that a portion of the fruit gathered from one’s garden be reserved for those who have no garden. In creating this innovation, the sages were relating to the priestly concepts of tithing and terumot (heave offerings), although the Bible provides for charitable giving to the poor no specific day is named for doing this. In fact, today Leket Israel, the National Food Bank, has volunteers across the country picking excess fruit from private gardens for the needy. “It is a wonderful opportunity to involve the youth in a hands-on activity to benefit those less fortunate and to mark Tu B'shvat, the celebration of the trees in a truly meaningful way,” Joseph Gitler, Leket Israel’s founder and chairman said.
An Israeli senior asks for charity on the street.
Tu B’shvat is also associated with spiritual renewal and awakening, similar to the way trees awaken after winter to product flowers and fruit.
Because the Torah is considered a Tree of Life, Tu B’shvat is also relevant to learning the Word of God. For example, when the Torah is returned to the ark during the synagogue service, the congregation recites Proverbs 3:18— “She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed." Jewish mystics (kabbalists) teach that Tu B'Shvat is an opportunity to correct the sin committed by Adam and Eve, emphasizing that Adam and Eve were placed in the garden “to work it and to guard it.” (Genesis 2:15) They were given very little to do, only to “eat from all the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 2:16) They had only one prohibition: eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
An ultra-Orthodox family prays at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.
By fulfilling the commandment given to them by God, they were able to bond with Him. By eating the fruits of this world for God’s sake we are actually bonding with Him, serving Him by acknowledging His gifts to us, willfully accepting and enjoying them.Thus, by enjoying God’s gifts, the Kabbalah argues, we are serving God if we see this world as a means for connecting with God, and serve Him by gratefully receiving His gifts (of the fruit of the tree). In this way, we are able to experience His presence. When we fixate on the physical, enjoying it for its own sake rather than as a bridge to God, the world becomes cursed as in the case of Adam and Eve. Tu B'Shvat thus becomes a time to celebrate how eating and enjoying the fruits of trees can be a bridge to God, and how doing so returns God’s blessings to the earth. On Tu B'Shvat, we enjoy the fruits as God’s gift, experiencing them as a connection with God. (Chabad)
A vendor at the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv (Go Israel photo by
Dana Friedlander)
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