Tu b'Shvat.

by Joe Indomenico.

Today is Tu b’Shvat, the 15th of the month of Shevat. It is the New Year of the trees for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. The Torah states that fruit from trees which were grown in the land of Israel may not be eaten during the first three years; the fourth year’s fruit is for G-d, and after that, the fruit can be eaten. Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B’Shvat, no matter when in the year it was planted.

Here is an insightful article by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh :

trees-tzadikim-divine-blessing-us  

Of the many thoughts that cascade are the image of the “Branch” – צֶמַח   of Zechariah 6 v 12 and Isaiah 4 v 2.

א  וְיָצָא חֹטֶר, מִגֵּזַע יִשָׁי; וְנֵצֶר, מִשָּׁרָשָׁיו יִפְרֶה.	1 And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a twig shall grow forth out of his roots.
ב  וְנָחָה עָלָיו, רוּחַ יְהוָה–רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה, רוּחַ עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה, רוּחַ דַּעַת, וְיִרְאַת יְהוָה.	2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11 v 1-2.

כא  וְעַמֵּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים, לְעוֹלָם יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ; נֵצֶר מטעו (מַטָּעַי) מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי, לְהִתְפָּאֵר.	21 Thy people also shall be all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever; the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, wherein I glory.
כב  הַקָּטֹן יִהְיֶה לָאֶלֶף, וְהַצָּעִיר לְגוֹי עָצוּם; אֲנִי יְהוָה, בְּעִתָּהּ אֲחִישֶׁנָּה.  {ס}	22 The smallest shall become a thousand, and the least a mighty nation; I the LORD will hasten it in its time. Isaiah 60 v 21-22

ה  הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם-יְהוָה, וַהֲקִמֹתִי לְדָוִד צֶמַח צַדִּיק; וּמָלַךְ מֶלֶךְ וְהִשְׂכִּיל, וְעָשָׂה מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה בָּאָרֶץ.	5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous shoot, and he shall reign as king and prosper, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
ו  בְּיָמָיו תִּוָּשַׁע יְהוּדָה, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח; וְזֶה-שְּׁמוֹ אֲשֶׁר-יִקְרְאוֹ, יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ.  {פ}	6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The LORD is our righteousness. Jeremiah 23 v 5-6

ח  שְׁמַע-נָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל, אַתָּה וְרֵעֶיךָ הַיֹּשְׁבִים לְפָנֶיךָ–כִּי-אַנְשֵׁי מוֹפֵת, הֵמָּה:  כִּי-הִנְנִי מֵבִיא אֶת-עַבְדִּי, צֶמַח.

8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign; for, behold, I will bring forth My servant the Shoot. Zechariah 3 v 8

All these and many more allude to Mashiach Tzadikeinu, our Righteous Messiah, The Righteous Branch…. for He is the link between Heaven and Earth.

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