TOday Thursday is Tu Bishvat ... the Jewish New Year of the Trees

 

Yesterday behind my house the local kids planted 31 trees in our "park" - all the community could get in the local town budget

 

The trees symbolize renewal when the cycle of life seems coldest, when the least sun is shining

 

The Tree new Year symbolized the date of giving Holy Fruit Tithes to the Levites working for All Israel... in the Holy Temple and elsewhere. And the Almighty called for a celebration of the Fruits and Land of Israel.

 

A wonferful Dutch convert lady married to a Moroccan Israeli who studied archaelogy from the same wonderful American professor as me (the professor also later converted)  initiated our "park" ... bless you Iris!

 

Continuing a theme from last week

 

Animals ... Why were Pharoah's and others' animals targeted in the ten Plagues ... And at the Dead sea?

 

These were the war-horses - and the Animals drowned with the cavalry.

 

Didn't those Israelite slaves feed and wash and walk the horses? Did they all forget tose kindnesses?

 

Holiness begets rewards and war mongers ... well

 

Participating in war begets punishment. 

 

So ... didn't the holocaust (Rememberance Day was this week) happen because the world-especially the British Prime Minister- appeased Hitler?

 

Last week we saw that the Egyptians who trusted Moses protected their animals!

 

This week we have so many themes in the portion... and while

 

That of

Reward and punishnent is not always clear

... true Holiness will always shine...

 

So...

Miriam ...How did she get all the women to dance at the Red Sea?

 

Her holiness shined ...they all knew her and

Trusted her - 

the faithful and fearless

Midwife who saved their babies

 

A Levite Leader of her family - who also saved Baby Moses ...

 

So at the Red Sea the men Sang and the women

Danced ...  

 

and the Torah says right after:

 

They brought down the Shabbos

 

To The World

 

Shabat Shalom

 

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz