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Israeli Olive Tree
“When, in making war against a town in order to capture it, you lay siege to it for a long time, you are not to destroy its trees, cutting them down with an axe. You can eat their fruit, so don’t cut them down. After all, are the trees in the field human beings so that you have to besiege them too? However, if you know that certain trees provide no food, you may destroy them and cut them down, in order to build siege-works against the town making war with you, until it falls.” Deuteronomy 20:19
Wednesday, February 8, is Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat, beginning the “New Year for Trees.” The New Year for Trees relates to the various tithes that must be separated from produce grown in the Land. We mark the day by eating fruit from the “Seven Kinds in the Land” that are singled out by the Torah - wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. At our oneg this coming Shabbat, we will enjoy these and more!
On this day, we can also compare man to a tree in the field in the sense of his needs— · Soil. You need to be planted in a community of faith. · Water. You need to be washed with the water of the Word. · Air. You need to be filled with the Ruach.
Isaiah 61:1-3 compares man to trees, “…That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
May we all … be called trees of righteousness.
Ron and Dolly Aaronson
Note: In Israel, it is customary to plant trees on Tu b'Shevat, and especially at this time, considering how the recent intentional fires caused thousands of acres to be destroyed. If you would like to plant trees in Israel, you can contact or call the Jewish National Fund at 1-800-542-8733. |
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