It is precisely for each of us
This holy day of Tu B'Shvat
This is our day of creative awe
Where out of the frozen
Snow hardened planet
Emerges tender and succulent
Green shoots of hope
And budding, swollen bulbs of promise—
That despite our best efforts to craft protective armor
We are awed by new life
And the ability to root on the most unlikely of plants and flowers and tendrils
That they—
And we—
Might open ourselves to the coming spring
And grow.
Rabbi Michael Adam Latz
This holy day of Tu B'Shvat
This is our day of creative awe
Where out of the frozen
Snow hardened planet
Emerges tender and succulent
Green shoots of hope
And budding, swollen bulbs of promise—
That despite our best efforts to craft protective armor
We are awed by new life
And the ability to root on the most unlikely of plants and flowers and tendrils
That they—
And we—
Might open ourselves to the coming spring
And grow.
Rabbi Michael Adam Latz
After you hear the poem read aloud, underline a few words that stand out to you. Why did you pick these words? Discuss with your partner.
Can you paraphrase (say in your own words) what you think the author is saying about Tu B'Shvat? What comparison is the author making between nature and people? Discuss with your partner.
Can you paraphrase (say in your own words) what you think the author is saying about Tu B'Shvat? What comparison is the author making between nature and people? Discuss with your partner.
The Gemara explains that it was customary in Beitar that when a boy was born they would plant a cedar tree and when a girl was born they would plant a cypress. And when they would later marry each other they would cut down these trees and construct a wedding canopy for them with their branches.
What do you think the symbolism is in the custom described in this section of the Talmud?
Why do you think people adopted this custom?
Why do you think people adopted this custom?
יומא חד הוה אזל באורחא חזייה לההוא גברא דהוה נטע חרובא אמר ליה האי עד כמה שנין טעין אמר ליה עד שבעין שנין אמר ליה פשיטא לך דחיית שבעין שנין אמר ליה האי [גברא] עלמא בחרובא אשכחתיה כי היכי דשתלי לי אבהתי שתלי נמי לבראי
One day, he was walking along the road when he saw a certain man planting a carob tree. Ḥoni said to him: This tree, after how many years will it bear fruit? The man said to him: It will not produce fruit until seventy years have passed. Ḥoni said to him: Is it obvious to you that you will live seventy years, that you expect to benefit from this tree? He said to him: That man himself found a world full of carob trees. Just as my ancestors planted for me, I too am planting for my descendants.
Why is Honi confused about the motives of the man who is planting?
What does the man explain to Honi?
This is a very popular text in our tradition, and it is often quoted. Why do you think this text is so meaningful to so many people?
What other tasks might people take on even though they themselves might not be able to benefit from them in their own lifetimes?
What does the man explain to Honi?
This is a very popular text in our tradition, and it is often quoted. Why do you think this text is so meaningful to so many people?
What other tasks might people take on even though they themselves might not be able to benefit from them in their own lifetimes?
כִּֽי־תָצ֣וּר אֶל־עִיר֩ יָמִ֨ים רַבִּ֜ים לְֽהִלָּחֵ֧ם עָלֶ֣יהָ לְתָפְשָׂ֗הּ לֹֽא־תַשְׁחִ֤ית אֶת־עֵצָהּ֙ לִנְדֹּ֤חַ עָלָיו֙ גַּרְזֶ֔ן כִּ֚י מִמֶּ֣נּוּ תֹאכֵ֔ל וְאֹת֖וֹ לֹ֣א תִכְרֹ֑ת כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ עֵ֣ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה לָבֹ֥א מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃
When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down.
What instruction is the Torah giving here?
What is the difference between "eating of" trees and "destroying" them?
Why do you think this rule is included in the Torah?
What is the difference between "eating of" trees and "destroying" them?
Why do you think this rule is included in the Torah?
WHEN I AM AMONG THE TREES
by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
by Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
After you hear the poem read aloud, underline a few words that stand out to you. Why did you pick these words? Discuss with your partner.
Can you paraphrase (say in your own words) what you think the author is saying the trees' message to her is? Have you ever felt that you were getting some kind of 'message' or feeling from trees or some other part of nature? Discuss with your partner.
Can you paraphrase (say in your own words) what you think the author is saying the trees' message to her is? Have you ever felt that you were getting some kind of 'message' or feeling from trees or some other part of nature? Discuss with your partner.