Page 42 - HaMizrachi_Tu BiShvat_AUS_5781
P. 42
TU BISHVAT READING
TU BISHV A T READING
R
abbi Berel W
ein
Rabbi Berel Wein
Tu BiShvat
M
Mo T¦a§ Keeping it
¦a§
o T
u © D
J
Ju © D Clean!
hroughout the years of the In 1882, Baron Edmond de Rothschild’s of Tu BiShvat has apparently not yet
Jewish exile, the day of Tu BiSh- Carmel (East) Wine Company pro- taken hold in their souls and psyches.
Tvat falling in the midst of the duced its first bottles of wine in Rishon
winter season served as a heartening LeTzion. At that time, Rabbi Naftali Zvi So Tu BiShvat is not just a date (no
reminder of our unbreakable connec- Yehuda Berlin (Netziv) was the rav and pun intended) in the Jewish calendar. It
tion to our Land, and eating its fruits head of the famed yeshiva in Volozhin represents our undying and never-fail-
confirmed the holiness of Israel: the in then Lithuania. He was also the tit- ing attachment to the Land of Israel.
people and the Land. I remember as a ular chairman of the Chovevei Tzion – It connects us to the 2,000-year-old
child in the freezing Chicago winters, The Lovers of Zion – the organization entry in the Mishna that called the day
my parents would insist on my eating that encouraged Jewish immigration to of 15 Shevat the New Year for Trees in
the Land of Israel. The day is a slight
a piece of “boksar” – carob – to com- the Land of Israel and helped support holiday in Jewish ritual and synagogue
memorate Tu BiShvat. The “boksar” the nascent but growing population of service. I still plan to eat “boksar” this
was as hard as a rock and as tasteless the Yishuv HaYashan – the pre-Zion- year, even though its taste has likely not
as wood. Yet I noticed that my parents ist settlers in the Land of Israel of the improved one iota. Yet I will enjoy every
– Jews of an earlier generation born 19th century. His nephew, Rabbi Baruch bite and again I will see my parents
before there was a State of Israel or a HaLevi Epstein (the author of Torah eating it with me. There will be many
time when free and open worship was Temima, a popular commentary to the other tastier and more delicious Israe-
allowed at the Western Wall without Torah), lived with his uncle and aunt li-produced fruits on the table before
Arab or government interference – ate in their home while being a very young me. But none carry the emotional mes-
their pieces of “boksar” slowly and with student at the yeshiva. In his writings, sage in my heart like the “boksar.”
great affection. Only later in life did I he recorded that the Carmel Wine
realize that eating that piece of “boksar” Company sent a bottle of wine from its So to me, the message of Tu BiShvat
validated their hope and belief that the first production efforts to Rabbi Berlin, does not end with the passing of the day.
Land of Israel would yet flourish and in recognition of his efforts on behalf of Rather, it serves every day to strengthen
grow under Jewish sovereignty and the the Jewish settlers in the Land of Israel. our claim to this piece of holy ground
vineyards and orchards of the Land When that bottle of Israeli wine finally and to look forward to the great times
promised to us by our prophets would reached the small village of Volozhin – each person under his vine and fig
become abundant reality. and was delivered to Rabbi Berlin, the tree in security and happiness – that
Every society needs physical symbols great Rabbi entered his bedroom and our prophets promised us.
to validate its faiths and aspirations. changed into his Shabbat garments, in
honor of a bottle of wine produced by
That is why countries have flags and Jews from the grapes of the Holy Land
seals. The fruits of the Land of Israel and upon which all of the agricultural
became the flag and seal of the Jewish mitzvot of the Torah had been fulfilled.
people vis-a-vis its beloved homeland,
even when there was little Jewish I have often thought about this vignette
population and no Jewish sovereignty when I hear observant Jews say they
present there. The pieces of fruit served prefer wines from France, Argentina,
to remind Jews of who they were and Chile, Australia, South Africa, Califor- Rabbi Berel Wein is Senior Rabbi of Beit
where they came from and most impor- nia, etc. over Israeli wines. They just Knesset HaNassi in Jerusalem and Director
tantly, where they really were heading. don’t get it. The lesson of the “boksar” of the Destiny Foundation.
42 |
