Facts, not partisan political fiction

Rabbi Howard S. Herman DD

During the month of February, Jews around the world celebrated the minor holiday of Tu Bishvat, commonly thought of as the “holiday celebrating trees” or the holiday celebrating the “birthday of trees.” In ancient Israel, the day marked the start of the annual agricultural cycle. Since the Torah prohibits the harvesting of fruit from trees less than three years old, Tu Bishvat became the day for noticing that little fruit trees were one year older. It is sort of like a Jewish Arbor Day. It has been characterized by the purchasing of trees in Israel and holding a Tu Bishvat seder attempting to nurture the idea of how valuable the earth and its produce are to us as human beings.

The earth just suffered its hottest year on record, and it is predicted that future years will be hotter and hotter. It seems to me that with this type of crisis facing us, this annual Jewish reflection of our ties to the earth is due for a reboot, if not a complete overhaul.

Over the last few years Tu Bishvat has been tied to the urgent issue of climate, the devastation of the earth’s resources, and the earth-related dilemmas we face as residents of our planet. Every day we continue to ignore this fact and similar issues move us one day closer to our own peril. Today, we live in an era that glorifies instant gratification; one that has no patience. This is also important in terms of our Jewish identity — instant gratification is affecting the way in which our communities operate. Living in an era with no patience, we tend to disinvest from any initiative that demands long-term commitment.

On the one hand, we are given dominion over the earth, and on the other hand, we need to bear in mind that it is God's, not ours.

Tu Bishvat has always been open to reinterpretation because it is not already laden with obligatory ritual and liturgy. At the same time, the existing symbolism of Tu Bishvat is perfect for this task. Trees are a potent life-giving symbol — Torah has been invoked as the “Tree of Life” as far back as the Bible (Proverbs 3:18), and Jewish mysticism uses the figure of the tree to describe the flow of Divine energy and blessing into the world.

Trees are vital to the health of planet earth more than ever — preventing deforestation and planting new sustainable forests are critical strategies for mitigating climate change. If we can root climate awareness and action into our Jewish sacred calendar, we are giving it a place it deserves in our awareness, and it contributes to the revitalization of Tu Bishvat.

But let’s take it one step further. It is the perfect time to ask ourselves, and our children, do we have access to clean water? Can we breathe clean air? Do we live in a place that is safe from the impact of hurricanes, floods, fires and other natural disasters? Are we (and others) close to parks, nature centers and other places for appreciating the environment?

There is a midrash in our sacred literature which relates to us that God showed Adam and Eve around the world and told them “Look at my works, see how beautiful they are — how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy my world; for if you do there will be no one else to repair it.”

On the one hand, we are given dominion over the earth, and on the other hand, we need to bear in mind that it is God's, not ours. At most, we are here for a short time, mere sojourners. Which solution adheres more closely to Jewish values? It seems to me that the science of climate change, as opposed to the politics of it, is clear that greenhouse gases generated using fossil fuels pose an existential risk to our planet and will affect all people, especially poor people and poorer nations. We, as Jews, have a religious obligation to do what we can to fulfill our sacred commandment — taking care of the earth and repairing the damage that has already been done to it.

Tu Bishvat is a good time to pause and consider these challenging questions about the environment and our human impact upon it. Perhaps that is the larger meaning of this seemingly minor holiday.

Shalom Uvracha.

Rabbi Howard S. Herman DD serves at Naples Jewish Congregation.