Tu B’Shvat’s Evolution From Tax Day to Earth Day – Algemeiner
Posted By admin on January 11, 2022
Like other Jewish holidays, the festival of Tu BShvat the 15th day of the month of Shevat has undergone changes since its first mention in the Jewish legal corpus known as the Mishnah, some 1,700 years ago. There, it was described as the New Year for the Tree.
During the days when the Jewish Temple stood, Tu BShvat was essentially Tax Day an administrative date for calculating the tithing of trees. Without a temple, it evolved into a feast of fruits in the Middle Ages. In the 16th century, Rabbi Yitshak Luria of Safed and his disciples created a Tu BShvat Seder, celebrating mystical elements of the Tree of Life. Finally, in the 19th and 20th centuries, Zionists adopted the custom of planting trees in Israel on Tu BShvat.
In the past decades, Jewish movements religious and secular alike have explained Tu BShvat as a Jewish Earth Day. By celebrating trees, we reconnect with nature, and learn about Jewish traditions related to ecology and the preservation of the environment.
Like other native peoples, the Jewish people in the Land of Israel relied heavily on agriculture. The Torahs teachings that pertain to harvesting the land appear like a sound warning amid the immense environmental challenges we face in the 21st century.
January 11, 2022 12:12 pm
From a general commandment to guard the Earth (Genesis 2:15) to a ban on causing animals unnecessary suffering, Jewish tradition has many relevant examples for todays world.
Take the case of shmita the sabbatical year. Its an agricultural hiatus that prohibits farmers from working the land for a whole year, once every seven years. It comes from the Torah, and is based on the importance of allowing the ground to rest six years you shall sow your land and gather its yield, but in the seventh you shall let it rest and lie fallow (Exodus 23:10-11). Fallowing allows the land to recover and store organic matter while retaining moisture. Since shmita is followed in the modern State of Israel, and the current Hebrew year is a shmita year, we wont see many trees planted this Tu BShvat.
The Talmud warns us that by generating so much unnecessary waste, we are destroying our resources. The Talmud states: He who covers an oil lamp or uncovers a kerosene lamp for no purpose violates the prohibition of bal tashit (do not destroy) since by doing, so the fuel burns more quickly. In a similar point, according to the European Commission, in 2020, European Union inhabitants generated 505 kg of municipal waste.
The meaning of Tu BShvat evolved over the past millennia to reflect the needs and challenges faced by Jews across the world in each particular period. As we approach this years Tu BShvat, it is impossible to ignore the changes in climate, and how they are affecting and will continue to affect our lives and those of future generations.
Since we will not be planting trees in Israel due to the shmita this year, we should use this opportunity to reflect on the climate crisis and reconnect with some of our oldest traditions pertaining to respecting nature.
In 2022, the central message of Tu BShvat is a perfect reminder our interaction with nature should be one of mutual respect and care. Let us partner with nature to reach a common harmony. For us, and for the generations to come.
Tu BShvat Sameac!
Marcos Roca is a member of the WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps, the flagship program of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), under the vision and leadership of President Ronald S. Lauder. This program empowers new generations of outstanding Jewish leaders. It is a highly selective global network of more than 350 members from 60 countries.
Read the original here:
Tu B'Shvat's Evolution From Tax Day to Earth Day - Algemeiner
- The Supremacy Of Torah - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 22nd, 2022
- Thanking G-d For Who You Are And Who You Are Not - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 22nd, 2022
- Shabbat Behar: Valuing the Land J-Wire - J-Wire Jewish Australian News Service - May 22nd, 2022
- Celebrate with our community at the Jewish Federation Annual Meeting - Jewish Community Voice - May 18th, 2022
- Here comes Alice Walker and the Jews, again - The Jewish Star - May 18th, 2022
- Torah prioritizes the mother's life and health | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle - thejewishchronicle.net - May 18th, 2022
- Baseless Hatred is Destroying Our Nation - The Stream - May 18th, 2022
- The Year Of Slipping Away (Part I) - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 18th, 2022
- Seeking help both for ourselves and fellow Jews - The Jewish Star - May 18th, 2022
- Baddiel: Jews Don't Count TV documentary will have 'surprising' differences to book - Jewish News - May 18th, 2022
- In Israel, Tzaddikim Are Buried All Around - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 18th, 2022
- The Fight is Part of the Mitzvah - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 18th, 2022
- Planting the seeds of inclusivity - Jewish News - May 18th, 2022
- The Opening of the Shema Prayer Explained - jewishboston.com - May 18th, 2022
- Why Ed Koch's response to AIDS was very political and not very Jewish - Forward - May 18th, 2022
- The Scandalous History of the Aleppo Codex - aish.com - Aish - May 16th, 2022
- Loving And Living With Dead Jews - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 16th, 2022
- Buffalo shooting: how white replacement theory keeps inspiring mass murder - The Guardian - May 16th, 2022
- What's the Omer? - J-Wire Jewish Australian News Service - May 14th, 2022
- The Fall of 'Roe' would also be an attack on religious liberty - St. Louis Jewish Light - May 14th, 2022
- This bird you cannot change | Yardaena Osband | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - May 14th, 2022
- The Eight Genders in the Talmud | My Jewish Learning - April 20th, 2022
- A Class of Their Own - Tablet Magazine - April 20th, 2022
- How Matzah and the Teshuvas HaRashba Saved Yidden from Terrorism - VINnews - April 20th, 2022
- Do We Have the Game All Wrong?: Natasha Lyonnes Cosmic Journey Into Russian Doll Season 2 - Rolling Stone - April 20th, 2022
- First night of Passover and Good Friday bonding. - KABC - April 20th, 2022
- Holding The High Line: Rapids Charlotte Preview - Last Word on Soccer - April 20th, 2022
- Ascending from slavery: Why I fight for the Temple Mount - The Times of Israel - April 20th, 2022
- "I live my life my way and my wife lives hers as a religious person. It does not have to fit in" | CTech - CTech - April 20th, 2022
- Does Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine Portend The Coming Of Mashiach? - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - April 20th, 2022
- Missouri moves closer to legalized sports betting. Are Jews allowed to gamble? - St. Louis Jewish Light - April 13th, 2022
- Why did Jesus dip a piece of food and give it to Judas? - Aleteia - April 13th, 2022
- Should we forgive slave owner Tobias Rustat? | Derek Taylor | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - April 13th, 2022
- The Pundit: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Nomination and the Jewish Approach to Textual Interpretation - The Commentator - The Commentator - April 13th, 2022
- In Egypt, Walking in the Footsteps of the Exodus - aish.com - Aish - April 13th, 2022
- The Prince of Egypt Gets Part of The Exodus Wrong - Solzy at the Movies - April 13th, 2022
- Israel's Minister of the Hyphen - Tablet Magazine - April 13th, 2022
- Gemara: The Essence of the Talmud | My Jewish Learning - April 9th, 2022
- Who Was Elijah and Why Do Jews Open the Door for Him on Passover? - jewishboston.com - April 9th, 2022
- The Contemporary Metropolis and Reshut HaRabbim - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - April 9th, 2022
- March Madness for Jews: Why the Sarachek tournament is such a big Orthodox deal - Forward - April 9th, 2022
- The Second Season of 'The New Black' Is Even Better Than the First - Algemeiner - April 9th, 2022
- Expel that yeast! (And get rid of the thorn from your own life) J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - April 9th, 2022
- Leading the people back to Egypt | Joshua Berman | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - April 9th, 2022
- Stop trying to get Jews to date each other and start focusing on nurturing friendships - Forward - April 9th, 2022
- Q & A: The Mitzvah Of Maggid (Part III) - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - April 9th, 2022
- Q & A: Will The 'Real' Adar Please Stand Up? (Part I) - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - March 12th, 2022
- The UK's immigration system is not fit to respond to the Ukrainian refugee crisis - PoliticsHome - March 12th, 2022
- Correlating the Nuremberg Nazis and the 10 Sons of Haman - VINnews - March 8th, 2022
- Yichud And Its Messages For Therapists - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - March 8th, 2022
- Im a cantor in Texas and parent of a trans child. My states assault on trans youth is terrifying - Forward - March 8th, 2022
- Broken Box Mime Theater to Present World Premiere of TAKE SHAPE - Broadway World - March 8th, 2022
- We Jews of Ukraine ask: Why is Israel abandoning our country? - Haaretz - March 3rd, 2022
- Opinion: The fight to criminalize abortion is about religion, and as a non-Christian, it's a violation of mine - Columbia Chronicle - March 3rd, 2022
- A Scholarly Rabbi Comments on the Book of Esther and More - San Diego Jewish World - March 3rd, 2022
- Join Rabbis Stiffman, Goldstein to learn The Spirituality of Laughter - St. Louis Jewish Light - March 3rd, 2022
- After departing Ukraine, Kyiv rabbi says hes working to help those left behind - The Times of Israel - March 3rd, 2022
- It is not yet time to unmask - The Jewish Standard - March 3rd, 2022
- Last Chance: Lowest Prices of the Year Ends at Midnight! - VINnews - February 26th, 2022
- Jewish history is repeating itself in Ukraine. This time, we must fight Putin back - Forward - February 26th, 2022
- The women's precious gifts, made with consummate skill - The Times of Israel - February 26th, 2022
- Malice In Wonderland - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - February 26th, 2022
- Royal Family: The disgusting reason why the Queen's most famous 3billion crown is purple - My London - February 26th, 2022
- Tying The Knot - aish.com - Aish - February 26th, 2022
- At 78, a long-anticipated theatrical debut (with thanks to Edward Albee) - Forward - February 26th, 2022
- 5 ways Jewish culture shaped 'Star Trek,' from Gates of Heaven - Albany Times Union - February 26th, 2022
- Why Are There Two Talmuds? The Answer: The Diaspora - Algemeiner - February 21st, 2022
- MOScout Daily Update: Kehoe Gets FOP for 2024 - Steve West Again... - Reaction to Danforth Plan and more... Missouri Scout - Moscout - February 21st, 2022
- Of God and war - The Jewish Standard - February 21st, 2022
- Rapids Podcast: CCL Fever, Chris Cartlidge Interview - Last Word on Baseball - February 21st, 2022
- Now Is the Time! ArtScroll's 30%-Off Talmud and Mishnah Sale - VINnews - February 11th, 2022
- Rabbinic Rabies and Rabid Rabbis the 'Mad Dog' in Talmudic Texts - The Media Line - February 11th, 2022
- Opinion | In the Jewish Tradition, the Words We Choose Matter - The New York Times - February 11th, 2022
- Written in the Book of Life: On Kathryn Schulz's Lost & Found - lareviewofbooks - February 11th, 2022
- Why the Torah cares so much about these two little sheep J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - February 11th, 2022
- True colors | Meirav Kravetz | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - February 11th, 2022
- How inclusive are we willing to be? | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle - thejewishchronicle.net - February 11th, 2022
- Raunchy, sarcastic TikTok Talmud commentary isn't profane; it's Torah - The Times of Israel - January 30th, 2022
- Talmudic Legal Thinking: Author Brings Humor, Sports and Celebrities to this Serious Topic Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News - January 30th, 2022
- Former teacher banned 'indefinitely' over charges of sexual misconduct - Jewish News - January 30th, 2022
Comments