Page 50 - HaMizrachi #26 Tu Bishvat USA 2021

TU BISHVAT READING

Rabbi Ronen Neuwirth

The Eretz Yisrael

Festival

abbi Yehuda Ben Rabbi Simon Adam is the only creature who was These verses, which we recite twice a
said: ‘[The Torah commands formed from both Heaven and Earth: day during Kriat Shema, reflect Jewish
“Rus to] follow G-d your L-rd. “And the L-rd G-d formed man from history, our exiles and redemptions.
But how is it possible for a man of flesh dust from the ground, and He breathed During each exile, the Shechina was
and blood to follow G-d? … Rather, into his nostrils the soul of life, and exiled with us and Eretz Yisrael was left
the intention is to teach us that just as man became a living soul” (Bereishit barren of fruit-bearing trees. Accord-
G-d, when creating the world, occupied 2:7). Adam’s role was to create har- ing to the Sages, one major indication
Himself first with planting trees, as it is mony between Heaven and Earth. While that our Redemption has begun and
written: G-d planted a garden in Eden. Heaven sends rain down to Earth, the that the Shechina is back in Eretz Yis-
You, too, when entering the Land of Earth produces trees and plants that rael is that trees are growing again. The
Israel, are to occupy yourselves first with grow upwards. Adam represents this Midrash says: “Rabbi Abba says: ‘You
planting trees, as it is written: When you harmonization and is supposed to oper- have no more explicit manifestation of
come into the Land, you shall plant trees ate the system so as to maintain the har- the End of Days than the following: But
bearing [edible] fruit’” (Midrash Rabba, mony in Creation. This system is very you, mountains of Israel, you shall give
Vayikra 25). sensitive. Each time mankind discon- your branches, and yield your fruit to
My people of Israel, for they will soon be
This Midrash is surprising. There are nects one component, the whole system coming’” (Sanhedrin 98a). Rashi adds his
many ways to find closeness to G-d, but falls apart. The first punishment given to commentary: “When Eretz Yisrael yields
how is planting trees the ultimate way Adam after his sin was the punishment its produce in abundance, then the end
to follow G-d? of exile – expelling him from the Garden will be near, and no sign of redemption
and disconnecting him from the Earth. could be clearer.” Our return to our
Apparently, this was the first task given homeland represents the restoration
to mankind: “And the L-rd G-d took the The same contract applies to Am Yis- of the harmony between Heaven and
man and placed him in the Garden of rael, who were chosen to continue the Earth.
Eden to work it and to guard it.” Seem- role of Adam and to create the special
ingly, had Adam not sinned, the main harmony between the spiritual life and Tu BiShvat is the festival of Eretz Yis-
role of humanity would have been to the physical life in the Land of Israel. “If rael. We plant trees and are reminded
work in the Garden of Eden! Is that the you hearken to My commandments… of our role in this Holy Land, restoring
purpose of our creation, to be garden- I will give the rain of your Land at its the harmony with nature that we once
ers? “These are the generations of the time, the early rain and the latter rain, had in the Garden of Eden. Every festi-
heavens and the earth... no tree was yet and you will gather in your grain, your val in the Jewish calendar reminds us of
growing on the earth, neither did any wine, and your oil... Beware, lest your something. Perhaps we could say that
herb yet grow, because the L-rd G-d heart be misled, and you turn away and Tu BiShvat is a reminder of Gan Eden!
had not brought rain upon the earth, worship strange gods… And the wrath
and there was no man to work the soil” of the L-rd will be kindled against you,
(Bereishit 2:4-5). It seems as if G-d had and He will close off the heavens, and
plans for the perfect garden with trees there will be no rain, and the ground will Rabbi Ronen Neuwirth, formerly Rav of the
Ohel Ari Congregation in Ra’anana, is author
and herbs, and a big reservoir of water not give its produce, and you will perish of “The Narrow Halakhic Bridge: A Vision
in Heaven, but was missing mankind to quickly from upon the good land that of Jewish Law in the Post-Modern Age,”
operate the system. the L-rd gives you” (Devarim 11:13-17). published by Urim Publications.

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