31 Jan LESSONS FROM A TREE

Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat, also
known as Rosh HaShanah L’illanos, the
New Year for Trees.
While it may still be cold outside, with the
winds blowing and the tree branches bare,
life beneath the tree bark is beginning to stir.
The Talmud teaches that the 15th of Shevat
is when the sap within the tree starts flowing,
giving the tree potential to produce fruits.
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, zt”l wrote
regarding Tu B’Shevat, “Behold, today they
are celebrating the birthday of the coming of
spring. Under the torn, dark, cold bark, fresh
life pulsates.”
While all may seem dark to us, HaShem is
preparing the trees to give forth fruit in the
months ahead. On Tu B’Shevat, trees
emerge from their winter sleep and begin a
new fruit-bearing cycle.
Tu B’Shevat is a time to take a lesson from
the tree. Just as the sap begins to rise and
flow within the tree, we must tap into our
“personal sap” – our inner potential. As the

tree sprouts buds, and eventually fruits, we
too have the ability to grow our own “fruits”
– our accomplishments. As the tree is given
the gift of renewal after the dark winter, we
are given the opportunity for a new
beginning and fresh start.
Tu B’Shevat always falls around the time
in which we read Parshas Beshalach.
Beshalach tells the story of the Jewish
nation finally breaking away from the
shackles of Egyptian slavery. What is the
connection between Tu B’Shevat and the
Exodus?
As the sap brings new life to the tree, the
Exodus brought a new a beginning to Am
Yisroel. Like the tree that transitions from
winter to spring, the Jewish people left the
darkness of slavery behind them, and
experienced a true “spring” as a free nation,
able to worship HaShem. The Jewish nation
sang shira – songs of praise to HaShem as
they crossed the sea. They were infused
with a new spirit, to thrive and produce their
own “personal trees” of mitzvos and good
deeds.
Just as a tree’s strength is in its roots, so
too, our “roots”, the life lessons of ancestors,

our Torah and our faith strengthen us.
The Torah likens man’s life to that of a
tree. “…Ha’adam eitz hasadeh… Man is
like a tree of the field.” (Devarim 20:19). A
tree is alive, it grows, and changes from
season to season. Its leaves change color,
eventually falling off, leaving its branches
bare. But then comes spring. Slowly, the
branches fill with leaves. The buds start
opening. The tree is lush once again.
So too with man. We experience many
changes in our life. We are at times strong,
at times vulnerable. We should take the
lesson of the tree to heart, and never give up
on ourselves. At times we may feel like
leafless branches, empty and forlorn. But
spring always follows winter, and the tree
grows and thrives once again.
There is a beautiful story related in the
Talmud of two sages, Rav Nachman and
Rav Yitzchak, who were about to take leave
of each other. Rav Nachman asked Rav
Yitzchak to bless him. Rav Yitzchak
responded with a story of a man traveling
through the desert. The man felt weak and
tired. His throat was parched, his stomach
empty. Suddenly, there before him was the
answer to his prayer. A most beautiful
fruit tree, with a brook running alongside
it.
The tree provided him with shade,
cooling him off. The juicy fruit satisfied
his hunger, while the stream was a source
of fresh water to quench his thirst.
With revitalized energy, the man readied
himself to continue on his journey. Before
departing, he wanted to bless the tree for
all that it gave him.
“Ilan, Ilan, Tree oh tree, bameh
avorechacha, with what can I bless
you?…” With fruit that will be sweet?…
With branches that will give shade?…
With a stream of water that flows beneath
you?… You already have all this. I have
only one blessing. “May all that is planted
from you be like you.”
Rav Yitzchak thereupon said to Rav
Nachman. “With what shall I bless you?
With Torah? With prosperity? With
children?” You are already blessed with
all these. Therefore, my blessing is that
“May it be the will of HaShem that your
offspring will be like you.” (Talmud
Taanis 5b-6a)
What a powerful bracha. Through the
ages, this meaningful bracha has become
the quintessential blessing that we wish
parents and grandparents. The blessing of
having descendants who follow in their
footsteps. The blessing of “the apple not
falling far from the tree”

The Ben Ish Chai, Rabbeinu Yosef Chaim
of Baghdad (1832-1909), teaches that Tu
B’Shevat is a propitious time to pray for the
fruits we use to observe various mitzvos.
Grapes for kiddush and havdala, and the
arba minim – the four species of the esrog
and lulav.
On Tu B’Shevat, there is a custom to make
brachos and enjoy multiple fruits. Some
even try to partake of fifteen different fruits
in honor of the 15th of Shevat. Another
custom is to taste from each of the Shivas
Haminim – the Seven Species that Eretz
Yisroel is praised for. “A land of wheat and
barley, of grapevines, figs and pomegranates,
a land of olive trees and honey from dates.”
(Devarim 8:8)
There is a story about a man in need of a
major refuah who approached HaRav
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, seeking
advice on how to beseech HaShem to have
mercy upon him.
“I will tell you what I would do in such a
situation”, said Rav Shlomo Zalman. “I
would strengthen myself in the reciting of
brachos, making sure to enunciate each
word carefully, clearly, and with proper
concentration. If I were to succeed in that,
that would be for me a great
accomplishment.”
(Meah Berachos K’Hilchasa, Ner L’Elef
Resources)
This Tu B’Shevat, as we say our brachos,
let’s try to concentrate a little harder on the
words, to really thank HaShem for His
kindness.
Tu B’Shevat’s message is to find our inner
sap, to realize our potential, and utilize all
the good which HaShem bestows upon us
each and every day. It is a time of renewal,
not just for trees and fruit, but for our own
personal growth as well.
The Hebrew month Shevat is spelled shin,
beis, tes. It is an acronym for a message of
hope. Shin – Shenishma, we should hear;
Beis – Besuros, news; Tes – Tovos, that is
good. We pray that the month of Shevat
should herald good tidings. As winter
becomes spring, blessing should come our
way.