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Chabad.org » Jewish Holidays » Tu B’Shevat » Man and Tree » A Tree's New Year Resolution








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A Tree's New Year Resolution


By Shlomo Yaffe

Tu B'Shevat -- the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat -- is known as the "New Year for Trees." Naturally this would be a time for trees to engage in soul-searching -- the same way people do on Rosh Hashanah. Here is a tree's New Year Checklist:

● Did I shelter the seedlings that live in my shade -- so they will grow up to be a next generation like myself?

● Did I grow towards the sun as a tree should, reaching up higher and higher towards that which I can never grasp, but which nurtures me all the same the more I strive towards it?

● Did I make sure my roots remain firmly planted in the soil that nurtures them, and did I drop my leaves there in the fall to give back life to that which sustains me?

● Did I ensure that my fruits were sweet and nourished all that came to enjoy them? Did everyone walk away from me with a smile?

● Did I bend gently in the wind, accepting what G-d sends but never breaking or giving up hope?

● Did I grow in strength and wisdom with each new ring this year?

Come to think of it, not a bad checklist for us humans either!
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By Shlomo Yaffe   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe, a frequent contributor of articles and media to chabad.org, is Scholar-in-Residence to Chabad at Harvard, and Dean of the Institute of American and Talmudic Law in New York, NY. Rabbi Yaffe has lectured and led seminars throughout North America, as well as in Europe and South Africa.
Image by chassidic artist Shoshannah Brombacher. To view or purchase Ms. Brombacher’s art, click here.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Jan 24, 2011
Trees
Beautiful. If only we would "listen" to the trees
Posted By Richard, Cape Town, South Africa

Posted: Jan 21, 2011
TREES
Yes, may we grow like trees, planted by the rivers of water flowing from delight in the Law of the Lord.
Posted By Anonymous, DEAL, United Kingdom

Posted: Jan 19, 2011
Trees
I have often thought about how a tree must stand tall, in one place and deal with whatever life brings it. It does it with beauty and grace, without self pity or complaint. Would that we humans could lives our lives with the same strength and dignity. Your list was beautiful. We could do worse than aspire to live as you suggest a tree should.
Posted By Cyndy Boelens, Dover Foxcroft, ME

Posted: Jan 19, 2011
Trees
As a Catholic daughter of a Jewish father, I read the Chabad newsletter regularly.
Thank you for such a beautiful article. I will pass it along to my friends of all faiths.
Posted By Eileen Sieff Stroup, Butler, PA

Posted: Jan 10, 2011
Trees
Thank you for such an inspirational guideline on how to solidify ourselves while improving the world around us.
Posted By Cindy Campbell, Renton, Washington

Posted: Jan 22, 2008
tree magnet
your list of a tree's New Year's resollutions would be a terific refrigerator magnet----no joke. It's a sweet, short, spiritual, and simple list of behaviors that we should be striving to attain on a daily basis. What better place than a refrigerator door to leave a daily reminder for everyone in the household. (e-mails and palmpilot reminders don't work on Shabbat, holidays, and for all of us who don't do so much technology stuff on a regular basis) And as we all know, a longer "to do" list isn't always as effective as a shorter one that includes only the essentials!
Posted By Malka Helllinger, North MIami Beach, florida

Posted: Jan 28, 2007
TREES
Being a "Tree" person, I love this. To all the trees that have nourshed me in all these ways and more, I dedicate this and will read it to the trees when one offers me shade, or fruit, or a wonderful branch to sit on and swing in the wind.... to lie on the grass and watch the bird sing its song perched from your branch. Oh what a wonderful creation you are ...
Posted By talmidah, USA

Posted: Aug 8, 2006
your thoughts has really inspirated and opened many doors i never new existed! your insight has definitely changed the way i perceive things.
Posted By Anonymous



 


Man and Tree
The Tree
Branches
A Tree's New Year Resolution
The Old Man and the Fig Tree
A Stupid Little Ruler
The Human Tree
The Seven Species and Seven Attributes
Life's Roots
Wheat & Dates
Cuttings
Twins: a Saga
Packaging
Your Child, Your Tree
The Teaching Tree
Roots of Resilience
Full Index...
Showing 1 - 15 of 17

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