The custom of planting trees on Tu B'Shvat expresses a famous legend about the Khoni HaMa'agal. A world with carob trees that were planted for my ancestors, so I will plant for my sons too.
By nature, Tu B'Shvat is a holiday of tradition and innovation, and is mentioned in the Mishnah as Rosh Hashanah for trees. Why should Rosh Hashanah for trees in general? These commandments.
Therefore, Tu B'Shvat is a particularly Israeli holiday. Originally, it had no halakhic meaning outside the Land of Israel. When most of the world's Jews lived in the Diaspora, Tu B'Shvat could have disappeared from the Hebrew calendar without the willingness to renew traditions and infuse them with new meanings.
And so on Tu B'Shvat the traditions of eating fruit and of making order with 4 glasses of wine were renewed.
Yes, not only on Passover.
The beginning of Zionism brought with it a new tradition that is familiar in every school in the country: planting trees.
This tradition began at the end of the 19th century and fulfills the Risha of verse 23 in Leviticus 19: and that you will come to the land and plant all the food tree.
In fact, the custom of planting trees linked the existential need to build the state with one of the verses that gave birth to Tu B'Shvat.
A wonderful tradition and innovation!
But what should we do in the year of the shemita, when observant Jews refrain from planting trees, and many authorities have decided to adopt this mitzvah?
We must adhere not necessarily to the act of planting trees but to the values behind this tradition.
The story of the Circle Parkers teaches us the need to think back and forth at the same time, to remember what others have done for us and what we can do for the future generation to have them better, or at least as good as us. And in other words - exist. Therefore, it is possible and obligatory to take advantage of Tu B'Shvat within the year of the shemita to ask: What can we leave for future generations? How can we take care of our daughters and sons? And the answer: to officially declare Tu B'Shvat officially a holiday of sustainability!
The holiday of sustainability can be integrated with the prevailing customs among the Israeli public. In the Tu B'Shvat order, it is possible to give up the custom of eating dried fruit - a custom that grew due to the inability to find fresh fruit this season - and enjoy local fruits that are on the markets this season. Import and enjoy fruits in the right season In schools, where they are accustomed to planting trees, they can make another "sustainable" contribution - for example, art workshops made from used household materials.
When the original taste of Tu B'Shvat lost its relevance, Ashkenazi followers, Safed Kabbalists, and early Zionist workers found creative ways to connect the festival to the hearts of the people - to connect us to Jewish roots and grow new customs. Will succeed in pouring more meaningful content into the lives of all of us.
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