Chasidic story, Adapted by Shira Kline

©ShirLaLa 2007

Two farmers lived side by side for many generations. They had been neighbors for a long time but they weren’t very friendly with each other. Why is that you ask? Because once upon a time they had an argument about a certain olive tree on the top of a hill.

“This olive tree is mine!” said one of the farmers, “because this land belongs to me!”

“No! No! NO!” shouted the other farmer. “This hill has always belonged to my family, so the olive tree is mine!”

“Mine!” growled one farmer as he grabbed the trunk of the tree.

“Mine!” stomped the other farmer as he grabbed the leaves of the tree.

After many, many years of arguing and being in a bad mood around each other, they decided to settle their difference. And where did they go to do that? To the Rabbi of course! And they agreed to abide by her decision.

The Rabbi listened carefully to one. And then to the other. “So you want to know,” said the Rabbi, “to whom does the land belong?”

“That’s what we want to know!” answered the two farmers.

“Well,” said the Rabbi, “Why don’t we ask the land?” The two farmers looked at each and then at the Rabbi with a puzzled look on their faces. They watched as the Rabbi bent down and put her ear to the ground. A moment later, she jumped up and announced, “My friends, the land says that it belongs to neither of you!”

“What?” shouted one farmer. “What?” shouted the other farmer. “Not to either of us?” they shouted together.

“The land says that you belong to it!!” exclaimed the Rabbi with a big smile on her face.

Make your wishes and keep an eye out for 2 trees embracing on this special holiday!

Color in the trees. Now, go find a tree and give it a hug!

Enjoy your Tu b’Shvat Seder!

Check out these seven special foods found in Israel. How many have you tried this year?

To till and to tend: one of the first mitzvot given to us by God in the Torah. Truly, we are the caretakers of this earth and of all the living things. (Including each other! but that’s for another day…) Bal Tashchit is the mitzvah that says, Do Not Destroy/Waste. It comes up in the Torah, Deuteronomy 20:19, having to do with warfare. Even in the heat of battle, we are not permitted to cut down trees and destroy fields for the sake of our advancement and/or the downfall of our enemies. Our Rabbis taught us that “when a tree is cut down, it is as if it’s pain resounds throughout the world.”

There is a wonderful midrash that tells of God explaining this all to Adam on a lovely walk through the Garden of Eden. God says, “I created all My beautiful and glorious works for your sake. Take heed not to corrupt and destroy My world. For if you destroy it, there is no one to make it right after you.” (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13) Sound familiar?

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. These are three different ways of saying bal tashchit. Every day we’re learning more and more about the environment and our role in it. Jewish teachers and texts have been talking about it since the very beginning. We are taught that righteousness includes the steps we take to actively care for our world, not to mention our appreciation for the extraordinary beauty offered to us in every direction. I like the way Rabbi Abraham ben Moses (1186-1237) puts it:

“In order to serve God, one needs access to the enjoyment of the the beauties of nature, such as the contemplation of flower-decorated meadows, majestic mountains, flowing rivers… For all these are essential to the spiritual development of even the holiest people.”

So this year on Tu B’Shvat, not only do I want you to go out and hug a tree, but I want you to take a serious look at the ways you can reduce your waste on a daily basis.

Ideas for Bal Tashchit? Here are a few of mine:

• Bring your own shopping bags to the grocery store with you. Enough with the plastic grocery bags!
• Reuse, reuse, and reuse again those plastic bags you have stuffed in every corner of the kitchen.
• Really remember to turn of the lights when you leave the room and Really remember to shut off the water while brushing your teeth, washing your face, and washing dishes.
• Use dishtowels and cloth napkins instead of paper
• Reuse your computer paper. Keep a stack of paper you’ve only used on one side and save it for next time. You can even use the backs of all that junk mail paper you receive every day.

I can’t wait to hear about your families’ green ways! Please send them in to green@shirlala.com or leave them as a comment. I’ll continue to update the list on a special page.

From, “Taste of Tradition”  by Ruth Sirkis

Ruth, considered to be ‘the Julia Child of Israel” tells us, Tu B’Shvat is all about “going on a nature kick.” In Israel, “meadows, orchards and vineyards begin to blossom.” So, “foods of the holiday are related to nature and trees as well. It is traditional to serve fruits. Since few are available fresh at this time of year, dried varieties are most often used.”

Almond-Prune Sweets

40 medium size pitted prunes (you can also use dried apricots)
8 oz apricot jam (or any other kind of jam)
20 blanched almonds
20 small paper cups

1. Place a prune in each cup. Spread with jam.

2. Top with another prune. Press together with your fingers. Spread top prune with more jam and tuck an almond on top.

Date-fig-walnut treats

4 oz pitted dates
4 oz figs
2 tblsp breadcrumbs
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp brandy (optional)
4 oz chopped walnuts
20 small cups

1. Remove fig stems. Grind figs and dates together in a food processor. Add one tablespoon of bread crumbs. Put into medium bowl.

2. Add lemon juice and brandy. Mix well with wooden spoon. Add remaining breadcrumbs and blend until a smooth dough forms.

3. Form ropes the thickness of a finger. Cut into 2 inch strips. Spread chopped walnuts on a plate and press each “finger” into them. Place in cups walnut side up.

“Taste of Tradition” is available in the USA via Amazon and also via many Jewish book stores.  Ruth has another book in English “Popular Foods From Israel”, which covers typical Israeli dishes.

Another suggestion from my mom, Barbara Kline

1. Fill dried apricots with softened cream cheese and top with a few dried cranberries or cherries.  You can do the same with dates.

From, “Jewish Holiday Kitchen” by Joan Nathan

Poached Fruit with Wine

6 oz pitted prunes
6 oz dried figs
½ C pecan halves
1 ½ C dry red wine
¼ C sweet red wine or port
¼ C brown sugar or to taste
1 stick cinnamon
4 cloves
grated peel of 1 lemon
½ sliced orange
1 handful of juniper berries

1. Place prunes, figs, and pecan halves in saucepan, adding enough wine to cover ¼ of the way up the fruits and nuts.

2. Add remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered over low heat for about 20 minutes.

3. Serve with whipped cream. It’s all very rich so serve small portions.

She also makes a salad with

1 peeled and sliced orange in round pieces
1 avocado sliced
1 endive separated
1 bunch of watercress
½ head romaine lettuce
2 pitted dates slivered small
seeds of ½ pomegranate or ¼ C cranberries

1. Combine all in bowl.

2. 15 minutes before serving, mix in the following salad dressing (15 minutes is in honor of the 15 kinds of fruits and nuts eaten on the 15th of Shvat).

Dressing

1. Combine all ingredients except olive oil.

2. Slowly drizzle in oil, whisking until well blended.

by Shlomo Yaffe
used with permission
Chabad.org

Tu B’Shvat –the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shvat — is known as the “New Year for Trees.” Naturally this would be a time for trees to engage in soul-searching the way people do on Rosh Hashanah. Here is a tree’s New Year Checklist:

• Did I shelter the seedlings that live in my shade –so they will grow up to be a next generation like myself?
• Did I grow towards the sun as a tree should, reaching up higher and higher towards that which I can never grasp, but which nurtures me all the same the more I strive towards it?
• Did I make sure my roots remain firmly planted in the soil that nurtures them, and did I drop my leaves there in the fall to give back life to that which sustains me?
• Did I ensure that my fruit were sweet and nourished all that came to enjoy them? Did everyone walk away from me with a smile?
• Did I bend gently in the wind, accepting what G-d sends but never breaking or giving up hope?
• Did I grow in strength and wisdom with each new ring this year?

Come to think of it, not a bad checklist for us humans either!

Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe is the spiritual leader of Congregation Agudas Achim of West Hartford, Connecticut.

 www.Rockinoutgreen.com  has several resource pages for both children and adults!

Check out COEJL’s page on Tu B’Shvat packed with learning about the environment and it’s connection to Judaism. You’ll also find a beautiful Tu B’Shvat Seder here.

Read Tu B’Shvat articles at the Shalom Center by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, a master teacher, author, and political activist.

Babaganewz’s Tu B’Shvat Central, my favorite place online for children’s activities and family learning!