Tu B'Shevat is Coming

We celebrate Tu B’Shevat - the New Year of Trees on Monday, February 9th. It is at this season that most of the trees in Eretz Yisrael begin to bud. We rejoice in the rebuilding of the land of Israel by planting trees. It is customary for Jews who live in the diaspora to eat fruit grown in Israel as a means of identifying with the Holy Land. It is also a tradition to eat a fruit that has not been previously eaten during the year so that we may recite the blessing of “shehechayanu. May this Tu B’Shevat bring true blessing for all of us.

In this week’s parsha, we read of the miraculous splitting and crossing of the Sea of Reeds, when Moses leads the Jewish people in exultation and song (Exodus 15). The Shira, however, is more than a song. There is no English word that can adequately convey its meaning. It is an expression of jubilation that springs from the inner recesses of the soul. At the splitting of the Sea of Reeds, the Jewish people witnessed that which even prophets did not behold. The heavens opened as they beheld angels, the Patriarchs and the Matriarchs. A simple handmaiden was able to point and cry out in joy, “This is my God...”But there is yet another dimension to this song of Moses that makes it so special; this uniqueness is to be found in the Hebrew word, “Oz” with which Moses commenced the song. It was with this very same word, “Oz” that Moses previously questioned God and complained “mei Oz”...” - “From the time I came to Pharaoh to speak in your Name, he (Pharaoh) did evil to this people, but You did not rescue Your people (Exodus, 5:23) And now, with this very same word “Oz”, Moses proclaims God’s praise.

Sometimes we sing songs of praise to God for having saved us from danger and suffering and through our song we acknowledge the miracles God made on our behalf. That gratitude however takes on a totally different dimension when we become aware that even the danger, the suffering that we experienced, was for our own benefit - and that our affliction helped us to realize our potential and achieve our purpose. Our bondage in Egypt prepared us for Sinai and the acceptance of God’s Covenant. Only a nation that endured suffering can understand the meaning of chesed - loving kindness. Only such a nation can be worthy of appreciating God’s Covenant and all the responsibilities entailed therein - to become a “light unto the nations” - witnesses to God’s Presence.
Shabbat Shalom