New Year Today For Trees: Tu bi-Shevat

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                

As I sit here reading and remembering Tu-bi-Shevat in Israel when we planted trees, and I'm watching snow blowing down past my 3rd floor apartment window on the coldest day Portland, Oregon has had with temperatures in the 20s.  

     Edible fruits from a hot country, Sao Paulo, Brazil, at their stall  São Paulo, Brazil has a large Jewish community, with many synagogues, schools, and other organizations. Almost half the Jewish population of Brazil lives here.  

In Israel at this time it was nice and warm, however.  Right now in Tel Aviv it's about 61 degrees, Safed is much cooler in the 50's.                                             

This is the date marking a dividing line for fruit tithing:  all fruits becoming ready for tithing after this date require a separate tithing. In Judaism, tithing is the practice of donating one-tenth of one's income to support the community and those in need. The word "tithe" means "a tenth part". The first tithe is the gift of one tenth of the remaining agricultural produce to the Levite after removing from the produce for gift of terumah to the priests). Historically, during the First Temple period, the first tithe was given to the Levites.  Levites were the tribe of Levi, not given a certain parcel of land like the 11 other tribes, but they were to live with others for a time and educate them in our religion and history.  

This started with Abraham when a 10th of all to Melchizedek (Gen.14:18-20 who was king of Salem.  when Abraham returned from his pursuit of 5 Mesopotamian kings, this king blessed him in the name of "God the Most High".  Scholars identify Salem with Jerusalem.  

 It is popularly celebrated by the eating of various fruits, especially those connected with Israel.  Jewish mystics developed a fruit ritual still widely observed among Sephardi communities.                                                         

 We in Safed/Tzfat held a fruit seder and that not only educational, but a great social experience. The Seven Species are eaten on holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Tu BiShvat. The Seven Species are seven fruits and grains that are considered special products of the Land of Israel in the Hebrew Bible. These fruits are: Wheat: (chitah);  Barley: (se'orah);  Grapes: (gefen);  Figs: (te'enah);  Pomegranates; ;   Olives: (oil)Dates:  and (date honey)

The first fruits of the Seven Species were considered holy and were brought as offerings in the Temple. 

 The animal soul constitutes that part of ourselves that is common to all living creatures: the instinct for self-preservation and self-perpetuation. 

But man is more than a sophisticated animal. There are qualities that are unique to us as human beings—the qualities deriving from our G‑dly soul. The point at which we graduate beyond the self and its needs (How do I survive? How do I obtain food, shelter, money, power, knowledge, satisfaction?) to a supra-self perspective (Why am I here? What purpose do I serve?) is the point at which we cease to be just another animal in G‑d's world and begin to realize our uniqueness as human beings.   Oh yes, we were told to take care of the world.                                                   

                                                                       

     There is a forest of fir trees near Safed where we buried our German Shepherd.  At some other time, we helped to plant one of these trees, too.  

 In modern Israel, the day is celebrated as an "Arbor Day" with tree planting by school children as well as adults.  I know I did as a new Olim.  

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2776/jewish/The-Seven-Species-and-Seven-Attributes.htm#:~:text=Based%20on%20the%20teachings%20of,and%20modes%20of%20human%20life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithes_in_Judaism#:~:text=The%20poor%20man's%20tithe%2C%20also,supported%20in%20the%20seventh%20year.

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2776/jewish/The-Seven-Species-and-Seven-Attributes.htm#:~:text=Based%20on%20the%20teachings%20of,and%20modes%20of%20human%20life.

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia