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TU BISHVAT READING
Rabbi Judah Mischel
abbi Judah Mischel
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ebbe Yosef Yitzchok, the Frei- interconnectedness of Creation with a idea or verse of Torah, uttering a
diker (Previous) Lubavitcher supernal ecosystem, where all things single word of prayer, we are bound to
RRebbe, was on a leisurely walk share the same root and all pulsate the entirety of the infinite universe of
through the forest with his father, with the same Divine heartbeat. All of Jewish experience and knowledge.
Rebbe Shalom Dov Ber, when young Creation are branches of one tree. Part of the Torah is the whole of
Yosef Yitzchok absentmindedly plucked The Torah itself is called םיִּי ַ ח ץ ֵ ע, “a Torah. Every detail is equally con-
a leaf off a tree.
Tree of Life for all those who grab nected to the Source and the same
Surprised, the father turned to his son onto it” (Mishlei 3). When we grab Divine current flows through every
and admonished him for his seem- hold of a single leaf at the very edge of nekuda, and every authentic com-
ingly harmless action: “The leaf you the tree, a small twig, flower or fruit, mentary and chidush throughout
tore from its branch was created by we are “ocheiz bekula,” holding on to time.
the Ribbono Shel Olam for a specific the entire tree as well, connected to The Shabbat after Tu BiShvat, Shab-
purpose! It’s alive, its physical struc- the whole of Truth and Wisdom. bat Shira, features the Song of the
ture is akin to a body, it’s imbued Sea at Kriyat Yam Suf, the Splitting of
with a Divine life-force, it’s guided by In the same way that the Rebbe, Reb the Sea. In the midst of Az Yashir, the
hashgacha pratit (Divine Providence). Sholom Dov Ber, was sensitive to song of praise celebrating the Exodus
Every blade of grass, every leaf on every blade of grass, every petal, so from Egypt, Moshe has a vision of the
every tree is invested with G-d’s own do we need to cherish every word End of Days: ך ְ ת ָ ל ֲ חַנ ר ַ ה ְּ ב ֹומ ֵ ע ָּ ט ִ ת ְ ו ֹומ ֵ א ִ ב ְּ ת,
ָ
vitality, created intentionally, each of Torah learned, every letter, every
with a Divine spark, part of a ‘soul’ mitzvah. Connecting with just one “Bring us to and implant us upon the
mount of Your inheritance…” He envi-
that has descended to earth to find its
correction and fulfillment. How can sions us “planted” on Har HaBayit,
you be so callous towards a creation flourishing with Temple conscious-
of G-d?” ness, rooted in the headquarters of
Divine space, time and awareness,
The Ba’al Shem Tov taught: the drawing from the infinite Source of
all-encompassing Oneness of All Life. So may it be!
G-d is the fundamental real-
ity underlying all Creation. A meaningful and sweet New
Everything is an expres- Year for the Trees to all who
sion of the singular, Divine strive to cling to any and
whole, the Ein Sof, the every part of it!
Infinite. Tu BiShvat Sameach!
Therefore, coming into
contact with even one
part, one element of Cre-
ation, is connecting to the Rabbi Judah Mischel is Executive Director
entirety. Far beyond the Tran- of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for
scendentalist thinkers and writers of Special Children. He serves as an educa-
the 19th century (lehavdil), the Holy tional consultant to schools and synagogues
Ba’al Shem Tov vividly perceived the in the United States and Israel.
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