This month, we celebrate the minor festival of Tu B’shvat — the 15th day of the Hebrew calendar month of Shevat. We call Tu B’shvat the “birthday” of trees, because it is a marker of time from which we count whether a tree is old enough to bear tithe-worthy fruit.
That is, is this tree mature enough, strong enough, to bear fruit from which we must dedicate a portion to others?
After being more confined to the indoors (i.e., in the northern hemisphere of our world, where outside temperatures remain frigid), we reflect on how to move beyond ourselves — beyond our dwelling places and beyond our comfort zone — to help others, especially by sharing our agricultural and spiritual gifts.
What kind of tree would you be?
The Kabbalists of Jewish tradition extend the tree metaphors associated with Tu B’shvat to the spiritual qualities of human beings. Using the prooftext “for a human is like the tree of the field…” (Deut. 20:19), Jewish mystics established a custom of eating a variety of fruit associated with ancient Israel as a cognitive reminder of our spiritual core.
Beyond relating to Tu B’shvat internally, we should use this time of year to perform mitzvahs associated with caring for Creation and promoting a sustainable planet.
For example, eating a fig, which is hard on the outside but entirely edible on the inside, reminds us of the concept of beriyah (“Creation”) and can help us connect to the holiness within each of us that stems from our being part of Creation.
Beyond relating to Tu B’shvat internally, we should use this time of year to perform mitzvahs associated with caring for Creation and promoting a sustainable planet.
Gardening is one form of caring for Creation
Debra Israel shared with me a photo of a swamp oak planted by the UHC religious school students in 2020 (it has grown from a sapling into a beautiful big tree at Deming Park). I also remember fondly the Gardening Resource Fair, a lively event Debra ran when I served the congregation a few years back.
Even as a small congregation, UHC has made (and continues to make) a historical impact within the Terre Haute community.
Even as a small congregation, UHC has made (and continues to make) a historical impact within the Terre Haute community. The Gardening Resource Fair years helped to connect members from the greater Terre Haute community to our congregation as well as providing a place for sharing resources on gardening — one form of caring for Creation.
There are personal ways we can honor the sustainability theme of Tu B’shvat as well.
There are personal ways we can honor the sustainability theme of Tu B’shvat as well. We can commit to reducing our carbon footprint by replacing one meat-based meal with a plant-based meal each week, for example.
Or, we can remember to bring those reusable grocery bags to the store when we shop. Perhaps we can combine errands into one trip, or better yet, carpool with a friend to run errands?
Connect through a congregational phone tree
In our January Hadashot, Scott Skillman shared an idea for a congregational phone tree. Expanding on that suggestion, we could use carpooling time to catch up with one another about the events of our daily lives.
As our tradition teaches from the Book of Genesis, “…it is not good for a person to be alone; I will make a helper to be alongside him…” (Gen 2:18).
May the coming month lead us to connect better with each other, and all of Creation.
Rabbi Jennifer Lewis will serve UHC Terre Haute during the 2025-26 academic year.