Tu B'Shvat will be celebrated this coming Monday, when many educational institutions - kindergartens, schools, studios and yeshivas, will deal with the beloved day, which is considered a holiday of nature, and a holiday of the Land of Israel. Shemita, which forbids farmers and the entire public in the land to plant trees and care for trees and shrubs in the fields.The purpose is to remind everyone that even a stable and strong thing like our ownership of the land is only temporary, and that the only stable and permanent owner of the land is the Creator.
But here the question arises how can this year mark the beloved and special holiday?
How did the children travel around the country this year and strengthen their connection with the Land of Israel, while all field work is forbidden?
"It should be mentioned that the custom of planting in Tu B'Tselem is not halakhic," says Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, but points out: "The environment is good. But in a shmita year it is allowed to plant trees only for a national purpose in order to save the country from the enemies, it does not belong to kindergartens and schools."
So what can be done?
"Trees and vegetables can be planted on the floor inside the school, using a pot or a hydroponic crop."
Hydroponic crops,
Rabbi David Satyu, chairman of the Tzohar Rabbinical Association and rabbi of the city of Shoham, explains that the custom of planting in Israel is relatively new, and has only existed for the last hundred years. "Certainly the custom of planting is proper, it connects the children to the land and creates in them a sense of connection and belonging to the Land of Israel. “Because we want to preserve this custom and create the Tu atmosphere there are yes ways to grow things but not connected to the ground. You can take avocado seeds and put them in clear bottles on the floor that is not soil. That way, the children can follow the growth of the avocado trees throughout the year without violating the prohibition or the law of shemita. "
Rabbi Aviner offers an alternative activity for the Feast of the Trees.
"The love of the Land of Israel arises even when the land is cleansed. Some people leave tons of garbage and dirt in nature. It is terrible and horrible it harms animals and also gets very dirty. Therefore the love of the Land of Israel is to clean the land, every student or child And awards for this are the love of the Land of Israel to plant but also to clean the land. "
Cleanliness in nature,
"Another action that can be done, although not in nature, but it has to do with the affection of cows in the Land of Israel is to buy fruit and distribute it to poor lonely individuals. You are reviving these people. "They lack food and electricity and more. When you now bring them fruit and food you raise these people to life. They come with children to make them happy and it animates the people, it may not be the planting of every Tu B'Shvat but it is no less important," concludes Rabbi Aviner .
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