Plant a Tree in the New Year

Believe it or not, one of Judaism’s four new years will be arriving at the end of January. It is called Tu Beshevat and takes place in the winter, usually not too long after the prolonged American holiday season. 
The holiday is often called Jewish Arbor Day, or the New Year for trees. In Israel, the holiday is celebrated by planting trees, and many American and European Jews observe the holiday by making contributions to the Jewish National Fund, which uses the funds to develop forests in the land of Israel.
The act of tree planting has become a symbol of gratitude for the blessings of the trees and is part of a program of reclaiming the soil of Israel and restoring fertility and vegetation to its people. The holiday, however, is an old one, predating the State of Israel by thousands of years.
Throughout the world, there is a custom to eat foods on this holiday that are distinctive to, or characteristic of, the land of Israel, specifically the seven types of fruits and grains that are mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:8. 
Some Jews, basing practice on a tradition by Jewish mystics in the 16th century, make a special Seder meal on Tu Beshevat, largely modeled on the structure of the Passover Seder.  (A couple of years ago we celebrated one at Beth Judah in Wildwood.)
Four cups of wine are served during the meal, and 13 biblical verses that speak of the vegetation of Israel are read, and many different foods are blessed and eaten.
Among the foods are olives, dates, grapes, pomegranates, apples, walnuts, carob fruit, pears, sunflower seeds and peanuts.
The appreciation of the mystery and infinite artistry of a tree is something that modern man does not always possess. The Bible warns the Israelites that even under the worst of circumstances, when war breaks out, or when they lay siege to a city and wood will be needed, that men must not destroy nature’s gifts. 
An ax must not be raised against a fruit tree, for the tree is the symbol of a person’s life. A person is dependent upon that tree and must never destroy the source of his life that is found in the realm of nature.
The tree and its beautiful message is a lesson that the world still needs today. Because Judaism fosters tremendous respect for life, it teaches that even to the least of living things, we must give our concern and affection.
We can only have trees if we are willing to work for them. A tree needs the hand of people. It must be set into the soil, nurtured and protected. We need skill in planting a tree.
We must master the laws of nature and respect the great design of God. Divine will gave us a tree.
Finally, we must understand that a tree requires utmost faith and patience. Some flowers can be raised in a few days, but a tree cannot be enjoyed unless we are willing to wait a number of years. The remarkable aspect of a tree is that it represents an affirmation of hope. You are never sure that you will ever reap its fruits.
The Talmud tells of a traveler who passed a field where an old man was setting a sapling into the earth. The traveler asked the old man, “What are you planting?” He replied, “I am planting a fruit tree.” The traveler remarked, “Don’t you know that the tree will require many years before a single fruit will grow on it?  Will you be alive to enjoy the fruit?” The old man replied, “When I was a child, I ate fruit from a tree that my grandfather planted.”
This is the lesson of the tree. It is our investment in tomorrow.  The New Year of the trees that we will soon celebrate is the affirmation that we respect life and that we are willing to labor for the morrow.
Here are four possible questions suggested by my rabbinic colleague Lawrence Troster that come from general environmental education to stimulate the environmental spirituality that is expressed on the New Year for trees:
•    What do I know about the place where I live?
•    Where do things come from?
•    How do I connect to the earth?
•    What is my purpose as a human being?
I hope that you will stay in touch and wish you all a year of shalom and wellbeing. 
I leave you with a quote from the famous Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai who used to say: If you have a sapling in your hand and someone should say to you that the Messiah has come, stay and complete the planting, and then go to greet the Messiah.
ED. NOTE: Rabbi Ron Isaacs is rabbi of Beth Judah Temple, Wildwood. He invites questions emailed to his website www.rabbiron.com.