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Man is as the Tree of the Fields
Arutz Sheva ^ | Feb 01, '07 | Moshe Kempinski

Posted on 02/03/2007 3:48:37 PM PST by SJackson

The holiday of Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish New Year for the trees, seems to come at a very unusual time. The Talmud in Tractate Rosh HaShanah describes how, at this point in the year, most of the rainfall in the year has already fallen and this is the time wherein the fruits begin to blossom on the trees. Yet, on the other hand, the sky is still foreboding and dark. One would have thought that the holiday celebrating blossoming and renewal would come at a time of warm sunlight, with the scent of springtime in the air . And yet, darkness still abounds.

Israel seems to be standing at the same juncture in time. It is a country surrounded by battering, howling winds of foreboding. Enemies around us seem to be gathering strength, while the people of this land seem to be weakening. The institutions that make up the fabric of the judicial and governmental framework of Israel seem to be deteriorating at a pace that takes one's breath away. It is difficult to conceive of renewal, let alone rejoice in it, when the air around reeks of corruption and self-serving malice.

Vision and belief can be a frightening thing, as they are concepts that exact a toll and demand implications. The state of Israel, born out of vision and filled with a sense of destiny, has become tired. After years of battles and tension, there are many in this land who have begun to feel that disconnecting from the anchors of vision and destiny would ensure smooth sailing.

As the struggles and sacrifices inherent in the turbulent history of this land have taken their toll, the Israeli people voted into power a government whose leaders take pride in being disengaged from ideology. In the words of Meir Sheetrit, one of Kadima's leaders, during a party convention, "Kadima has disengaged itself from all ideologies. That is Kadima's uniqueness."

Without national vision to guide them, politicians are left with self-serving motivation. Without a sense of destiny, they forsake the future for the rewards of the present. Power corrupts, and it does so more completely when power ceases to be the means to some loftier goal.

Yet, the lesson of Tu B'Shvat is invigorating. Even in the midst of warfare, we are bidden to have faith in the vision of the future. We read in Deuteronomy the following: When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, but thou shalt not cut them down; for man is as the tree of the field. (Deuteronomy 20:19) The trees are spared, as they represent a future of new possibilities.

A Tu B'Shvat children's song (HaShkeidiya Porachat) describes the almond tree, whose early blossoms assure the world of the coming thaw and rebirth of nature. The lesson is clear. Look for the tender blossoms in our national experience and be assured that the nation continues to be healthy and pure. This is especially true when the winds howl at their loudest and the cold sense of abandonment seems to creep into our souls.

The blossoms that appear scattered throughout our people are hints of the potential and power that could and will manifest itself, in spite of our present temporal leadership. The people of Israel are stronger than that leadership. In a society that is roundly criticized as being hedonistic and selfish, blossoms of something much healthier are becoming evident everywhere.

The grocery stores of Sderot were surprised when two men came in and arranged the payment of many overdue bills for people they did not even know. Young people from around the country are volunteering in chessed (acts of loving-kindness) organizations around the country before, during and after warfare. For the first time in Israel's history, Aliyah-by-choice has surpassed Aliyah-by-need in record numbers. Birthright trips are bringing in tens of thousands of young people for an experience that has proven to be life-changing for these participants.

Blossoms are appearing across the country.

As the higher echelons of our government continue to reveal an ugly side of human nature, the public seems to be turning inward, and more sensitively, to each other. The latter almost in reaction to the former. They look at the mirror that is their elected leadership and yearn for something else. People in the midst of this social darkness are groping for light and, as a result, are turning towards each other.

In a recent training exercise, a group of young soldiers was on a seven-kilometer run to prepare for their traditional 35-kilometer run. The unit was made up of a mixture of all segments of Israel's population. One of the young religious soldiers was finding it very hard to keep up with the rest of the group. The commander ordered the yeshiva student to run in the front with him and to keep up with the pace. The other soldiers tried to cajole, prod and even carry him further, but it was of no avail.

One young soldier, who would not define himself as Torah-observant, went up to his fatigued comrade and said that he had not put on teffilin since his Bar Mitzvah. The non-observant soldier told the other young man that if the religious soldier could overcome his physical and psychological obstacles and run ahead, and keep up the pace, then he, the non-observant soldier, would get up earlier, put on teffilin and pray with the religious soldiers. The yeshiva student-soldier's eyes lit up and he seemed to gather strength from some unknown corner of his soul; and he took off running. The next day, the two men stood together in prayers.

The blossoms continue to appear around the country in time for Tu B'Shvat, and in time to refresh, renew and invigorate a people that has temporarily faltered in its eternal voyage.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Israel
KEYWORDS: israel; tubshvat

1 posted on 02/03/2007 3:48:38 PM PST by SJackson
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

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2 posted on 02/03/2007 3:49:07 PM PST by SJackson (Let a thousand flowers bloom and let all our rifles be aimed at the occupation, Abu Mazen 1/11/07)
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To: SJackson

thank you for the post.


3 posted on 02/03/2007 5:12:53 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: SJackson
Thanks for this post, things have been happening so fast I’ve nearly missed some things.

Check this out, Friday night Feb. 2nd was the beginning of Tu’BShevat and the full moon passed 0.9 degrees north of Saturn. In Kabbalistic Astrology anything less than one degree constitutes a conjunction. Notice, the full moon and Saturn, that’s called conception! So then I opened up my Hebrew calendar and wouldn’t you know it, nine months from Tu’BShevat falls right into Sukkot (Tabernacles). What will be born? Best hold on, because the ride just gets wilder!

Thanks again…

M

4 posted on 02/06/2007 1:34:30 PM PST by Jeremiah Jr (Saturn is in Leo)
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