Tu Beshvat

This coming Thursday is called טו בשבט which means the fifteenth of the month of shvat. The mishna tells us that according to baishillel this day is the birthday of the trees.  Just like birth represents a burst of new life, on this day as well the trees begin to slowly start blooming\blossoming again expressing the life holed up inside during the winter. It is customary to celebrate this day by not reciting tachnun (special prayer that’s generally not recited on official jewish holidays) as well as eating a variety of fruits and nuts. Here’s a possible insight into this unique holiday. There’s a verse in the Torah "כי האדם עץ השדה"- “for man is like a tree in the field”. Our sages explain that man is like an upside down tree. From a physical perspective our head is like the trunk while our arms and legs etc. represent the branches. On a deeper note, our mind is the source for the speech and actions that we carry out with our mouths, arms and legs. Depending on the kind of “field” we choose to “plant our seedling” ideas is the quality “fruit” our words and actions will “sprout” forth later down the line.Just like a healthy tree seeks firm roots from beneath, so should man seek “firm roots” in the one above, the source of all life! Celebrating the rebirth of the trees means celebrating our own rebirth. Celebrating that every day (really moment!) we are given the unique opportunity by Hashem to produce and actualize brand new ideas and enjoy the fruits of our own individual labor. When we eat our fruits on this special day, one can contemplate:  Just like these beautiful delicious fruits are products of a long process of growth for the fruit as well as the tree, so may our words and actions (“our fruits”) spread light and truth upon us, our friends,and the entire world. May we all merit to “sow roots embedded in truth” and bring forth everlasting fruits for all of mankind.