Tu Bishvat Sameach!
This coming Thursday, we will be celebrating the holiday of Tu BiShvat – the
New Year for Trees.
The Torah says (Deuteronomy 20: 19), “For man is a tree in the field....” The
Torah calls humankind “trees of the field,” and therefore Tu Bishvat – the New
Year for trees -- is also a New Year for people.
King David also used the metaphor of a man as a tree. In his words (Psalm 92),
“The righteous man shall flower like a date palm and grow tall like a cedar of
Lebanon.”
Is there a reason for King David to use this double imagery of date palm and
cedar?
Maybe the answer lies in understanding the differences between date palms and
cedar trees.
Date palms flourish in desert climates, but they must grow near a source of
water. Their roots are broad, but relatively shallow.
Lebanon cedar trees grow on top of high mountains. They have strong roots that
can penetrate rocks until reaching a deep source of water.
Whereas date palms give a tremendous amount of luscious fruit, cedars give no
fruit.
The wood of the Lebanon cedar is one of the best on earth, but the wood of a
date palm has no real value.
King David advises us to be both – like cedars and like date palms.
Our character “wood” should be good, like a cedar.
We should have deep roots like a cedar, with a deep connection to our ancient
roots.
And, like a date palm, we should be close to a source of water, our vitality
and bear fruit – good children.
On this New Year (for trees and people) we would like to announce the launch of
our new site, http://www.ulpanor.com. It has richer content, and many new
features including an active blog and links to our new social networks. We
welcome you to visit our [3]new website and fan us on Facebook and follow us
on Twitter. "Like" us on Facebook by Friday, January 20, and receive a free
Tu B'Shvat Haggadah eBook.
The new site and social communities are also in a way like a tree. In order for
them to grow and mature, they need to be nurtured, taken care of, and
periodically watered with new fresh content.
We believe that with your feedback and comments we can make our new site and
social communities better and more beneficial for our students and friends.
Tu Bishvat Sameach,
Yoel & Orly
Get a free Tu B'Shvat Haggadah
Ulpan-Or has great educational material for Tu B'Shvat.
Like us on Facebook by Friday, January 20, and receive a FREE Tu B'Shvat
Haggadah eBook for download.
Ulpan-Or
Jerusalem Location Tel Aviv Location
43a Emek Refaim St. 2nd Floor 4 Koifman St. Beit Sharbat
German Colony (Next to Dan Panorama hotel)
Jerusalem 93141 Tel Aviv 68012
516-252-4914
Jerusalem: 02-561-1132
Tel Aviv: 03-566-1493
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