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Translated and adapted by Yehoshua Metzinger from
Mamarim Miluket, v.5.
If Tu B' Shevat is the "New Year for Trees, why doesn't
it fall on the first of the month like Rosh Hashanah? One would think that any
new year would begin at the beginning of a month. The sages Hillel and Shammai
identified four "heads" of the year: Nissan, Elul, Tishrei and Shevat. The
academy of Shammai concluded that they all begin on the first day, but the
academy of Hillel decided that in Shevat, the 15th day should be the
start of the year for trees, which is the opinion we follow today. Why should we
observe Tu B'Shevat in the middle of the month, and what is the connection
between the new year for trees and our tasks on this day?  | | " Jews are compared to the moon and also to trees..." | | |
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that the answer is
hinted at in the traditional teaching that Jews are compared to the moon and
also to trees. Tu B'Shevat is in the middle of the month when the moon is full.
Just as the moon is constantly in a cycle of waxing and waning, so the Jewish
people experience times of great influence and times when they occupy a more
humble position. Trees are compared to people in the verse,"...man is the tree of
the field" (Deut. 19:19). This is particularly true if the man is a Torah
scholar, who has a commanding presence like a large fruit-bearing tree. The
fruit corresponds to his Torah study, the result of his efforts.
The three festivals of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot,
like Tu B'Shevat, come in the middle of the month. In addition to their
historical themes, these three festivals also mark the conclusion of the harvest
of specific produce: barley, winter wheat, and the summer crops respectively.
Since every physical phenomenon has a spiritual component, this harvest is not
only for the gathering of grains, but is also for enjoying ripeness in the
spiritual realm as well.
The planting, taking root, growing and harvesting
involved in any crop is like G-d's relationship with the Jewish people. The
verse "I planted in the land" (Hoshea 2:25) hints that sowing a seed is like G-d's
implanting each Jewish soul into its physical body and animal Nefesh, and
the soul's subsequent refinement of them. | | " Sowing the seed is also like the descent into exile..." | | |
Sowing the seed is also like the descent into exile.
In our generation, when it has been said that the Mashiach will come, the great
darkness is like the darkness underground where the seed is growing, which will
bear an abundant harvest when Mashiach comes. We will then see that, just as a
few seeds put into the ground result in many plants, so too our descent into
exile is for a greater ascent in the time of the Redemption.
Sowing seeds is also like the fulfillment of mitzvot.
Once a seed is planted, it breaks apart and releases growth potential. In other
words, it ceases to be what it was and becomes something greater. When a Jew
fulfills a mitzvah, it is because G-d has commanded him to do so. He lets go of
his ego and his inclinations and becomes something greater than he was before.
Similarly, when a Jew learns Torah, he becomes smaller
and greater at the same time. The knowledge he brings to Torah is like nothing
in comparison to the greatness of the Torah itself. To be an effective student,
he must approach his teacher with a mind free of preoccupation in order to
properly receive the words of his teacher. At the same time, the Jew learning
Torah experiences intellectual pleasure from the greatness of the Torah. He
toils in the Torah like a servant, but, at the same time, he experiences
pleasure because he brings pleasure to the king. | | " The fruit is the pleasure of his Torah study..." | | |
What does this have to do with the nature of Tu
B'Shevat, and why it is in the middle of the month? First, Tu B'Shevat, like the
three festivals, is in the middle of the month because it complements them. The
crops associated with the three festivals represent mitzvot, and the fruit of Tu
B'Shevat represents the fruit of Torah study, since man is like a tree and the
fruit is the pleasure of his Torah study. Bread is more necessary than fruit,
which is sweet and is usually eaten for dessert or a snack, which gives us
pleasure.
Eating fruit reminds us that we should learn Torah
with joy and pleasure, since we are giving pleasure to G-d. It is also an
important day to learn and spread the inner dimension of Torah, wherein is found
the greatest sweetness and pleasure of Torah. The fact that the full moon occurs
on the holiday reflects the fullness and joy of the holiday reminds us that all
Jews are kings and sons of kings. May we experience the coming of Mashiach
speedily in our days.
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