Tu B’Shevat: Gnarls of History

By Rabbi Ariel Platt

After our recent snowfall Tuesday it is hard to believe that Tu B’Shevat (15th of Shevat), the “birthday” or “new year” of the trees and the holiday that marks the beginning of Spring in Israel, is today. The holiday has evolved from the ancient farmers of Israel giving a portion of their trees first fruits in thanks to the Temple, to the Jewish mystics creating a Tu B’Shevat seder revolving around eating the fruits of the trees, to modern day practices of planting trees and spreading environmental awareness. 

To celebrate the birthday of the trees, I want to share an excerpt from a poem about a tree that recently inspired me.

From “The Sycamore,” by Wendell Berry (contemporary American writer)

[The sycamore] bears the gnarls of its history

healed over. It has risen to a strange perfection

in the warp and bending of its long growth.

It has gathered all accidents into its purpose.

In this poem I saw myself as a tree. The Torah itself in the Book of Deuteronomy 20:19 also  compares humans to, “the tree of the field.” According to Rashi (French Medieval commentator), “the Torah compares humans to trees because like humans, trees have the power to grow. And as humans have children, so trees bear fruit. And when a human is hurt, cries of pain are heard throughout the world, so when a tree is chopped down, its cries are heard throughout the world.”

We are all trees, and as we live our lives gnarls form. The gnarls are what make us beautiful. We carry the gnarls of our ancestors, of our past, present and future. Each of our gnarls make us unique and strong. We learn from gnarls, and we grow. Our gnarls mark our legacy.

Redwood trees don’t grow roots in the ground. They grow their roots outward to support one another. Their strength comes from the way they work together to support each other. Just as the redwoods lift each other up as they grow, so too do we. As gnarls form, which inevitably they do, there is a community of roots there to strengthen us. 

So, today let Tu B’Shevat and the trees inspire us to celebrate the gnarls of our history and the roots that support us.

Chag Sameach! Happy Tu B’Shevat!

Check out these links for more information:

PJ Library – https://pjlibrary.org/tubshevat

My Jewish Learning – https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/tu-bishvat-ideas-beliefs/

Exploring Judaism – https://www.exploringjudaism.org/holidays/tu-bishvat/