B"H
Monday, Shevat 15, 5782 / January 17, 2022
Today is the 15th day of the Hebrew month, Shevat, also known as "Tu B’Shevat - Rosh Hashanah L'ilanot - New Year for trees."
Why is this day called Tu B’Shevat? Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value. The two Hebrew letters Tet & Vav, which make up the word "Tu," add up to 15. Tu B’Shevat means the 15th day in Shevat.
The practical purpose of identifying a New Year for trees is that, in Israel, one must give tithes from the harvest reaped each year. The 15th of Shevat marks the New Year for trees and thus determines the tithes to be given from the fruits of that year. All fruits that started blossoming before the 15th of Shevat were considered as of the previous year. The ones which began blossoming after the 15th of Shevat were considered as fruit of the New Year.
Celebrating Tu B’Shevat also expresses our love for our Holy Land, its fruits and its special mitzvot.
According to our sages, the significance of New Year for trees to us is based on the following Torah verse (Deut. 20:19), "Ki Ha'adam Eitz Ha'sadeh" - "Man is compared to a tree."
A person is likened to a tree in many ways. For example, for a tree to become full grown and healthy giving delicious fruit, one must attend to the tree from when it is still very young. In fact, the most crucial time is when the tree is young and susceptible to all kinds of dangers.
The same is with people. To assure that our children grow up spiritually and morally strong, we must take extra care to give them the proper spiritual nourishment when they are young. Just like a small mark on a young tree can turn into a large scar as the tree grows, so too, even a small negative impression on a young child can have a most lasting devastating effect when they get older.
Q. This week’s Parsha is Yitro. How can we connect New Years for trees with Parshat Yitro?
A. Parshat Yitro is about the Giving of the Torah. The Torah is also compared to a tree; "Eitz Chaim" - "A Tree of Life." The sign of a healthy tree is that it grows and gives fruits, which benefit others. So too, a Jew must continue to grow in knowledge of Torah and continue to bear fruits which are the performance of mitzvot and good deeds and helps others enjoy the fruits of the Torah.
The Fifth Commandment of the Ten Commandments is: “Honor your father and your mother.” Here too, we find the connection to a tree. To make sure that a young tree grows straight, it is supported from two sides from a very young age. The same is with our children. Father and mother must be the two supporting pillars for their children so that they grow straight and healthy. Investing in our children is the greatest and most rewarding investment one can and should make.
May we all be blessed with everlasting Nachas from our fruits - from our children.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & FRUITFUL DAY