My children are at the age that tree-climbing is a favorite sport. It's no wonder that in my family there's some unique longing for the New Year for Trees.
My son Dovid claims that the thrill is not only the accomplishment, but also the view from up top.
What is the treetop view?
Tu Bishvat, the fifteenth of Shvat is celebrated by Jews as the New Year for Trees. It has always struck me as amazing that we Jews have so many New Years. In addition to Rosh Hashana we also have the new year for months, trees, contracts, installment of kings, tithes and more.
The Talmud states that the new year for animal tithes is on Elul 1 and for planting and sowing on Tishrei 1. But none of these other new years seem to get as much attention as the new year for trees. I’ve always wondered why.
In modern times Tu Bishvat has gained even more stature. Perhaps it’s due to our greater sensitivity to the environment, but I’d like to believe there’s a spiritual driving force.
True, the Torah states, “For man is a tree of the field” (Devarim/Deuteronomy 20:19). But why the special mention for trees in the first place? Why no great celebration for the new year for animals (or is that the next PETA Jewish campaign)? Are we not more similar to animals than to trees?
And why do we celebrate the new year exclusively for trees and not all types of vegetation? Are dates, oranges and pomegranates so superior to cucumbers, squash and strawberries?
The following reading from Hoyom Yom, a compilation of Chassidic sayings, inspired me.
The kindness and special quality in G-d's making man upright (see Kohelet/Ecclesiastes 7:29), to walk erectly, is that though he walks on the earth he sees the Heavens; not so with beasts that go on all fours; they see only the earth.
Animals may be more similar to humans, but if we are looking to emulate an animal or a tree, the choice should be clear. Animals represent that which is natural to us. We all possess an animalistic instinct. We don’t need to strive to become animal-like. In fact, we need to strive to be more unlike an animal.
A tree represents the upward growth to which we humans ought to aspire. Vegetables are also delicious, but they lie low, remaining earthly. Trees extend heavenward, reaching higher and higher toward the heaven that they can never grasp.
So, Tu Bishvat is time for us to ask ourselves, am I more like an animal or more like a tree?