Tu B’Shvat (the 15th of the Jewish month of “Shvat”) is always one of those holidays that, on the outside, is quite deceiving. No one right now is looking out the window and thinking to themselves, “This is the perfect time to celebrate trees.” Why not wait until March or April (when the showers come), or even May (the time for flowers!)?
Perhaps the lesson is that, while on the outside the trees appear to be dormant or even dead, one should remember that there is a process of renewal that will once again occur, and that growth begins deep beneath the surface well before we even see the arrival of the first blossoms. That process begins now, around Tu B’Shvat, as the sap begins to flow within the trees, despite the fact that we will not see the first outward growth for another couple of months.
And so it is with life: the growth that we want to see happen does not just “pop up” one day, but rather requires a process of work that is often not seen or noticed, but in reality is the key to growth.
This idea might help explain a really interesting custom brought down by a famous Chassidic master known as the Bnei Yissachar (1783-1841) who suggested that on Tu B’Shvat one should pray for a really beautiful etrog (the fruit that is taken on the holiday of Sukkot to wave with the lulav). The questions surrounding this are obvious: aside from an etrog being a relatively random item to pray for, even more puzzling is the fact that the holiday of Sukkot is literally 6 months away! Are there not so many other things I need sooner that I should be praying for?
The growth that we want to see happen does not just “pop up” one day, but rather requires a process of work that is often not seen or noticed, but in reality is the key to growth.
However, when we view this custom in line with the concept of renewal, we can see that it is indeed not that strange at all, and in fact carries with it a profound message and reminder: the beautiful fruit of the etrog is not something that just “appears” in October; the fruit that we see is only there because it started its process of growth months in advance.
According to our Sages, the etrog fruit represents a person who embodies deep Jewish wisdom and also has wonderful ethical values and “middot.” So how does one start to embody those traits? Not by waking up one sunny day and having them, but rather waking up one day from a winter-like hibernation with the realization that growth is possible and is our goal in life. No pressure to do it all at once – or even make any great visible change – but deep down, start ensuring that something small, subtle, yet real starts to take root. If you strive for that now, you will be surprised by what can grow in a relatively short amount of time!
So, in honour of Tu B’Shvat, start planting some seeds – seeds of things you want to see blossom in your lives, in your character, and in your community. You will be amazed at the forest that may emerge!
Wishing you a “tree-ific” Tu B’Shvat
— Rabbi Rafi