Tu B'Shvat in Israel - now I get it, too

Yitro, (Jethro, Moses' father-in-law), a priest of Median "…heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel…" freeing them from slavery and guiding them through the Sinai wilderness (Ex. 18:1). This notion of hearing/knowing all that God has done is magnified here in Israel throughout the Jewish calendar. Since making Aliyah this past summer our experience observing the Sabbaths and holy days have been unlike any other, and here comes Tu B'Shvat. My friend and colleague Esther hit the nail on the head in her Tu B'Shvat email: "…I love that you can always tell what holiday it is here by what's on sale at the supermarket (There are already hamentaschen out for Purim…). The almond trees are beginning to bloom and flowers are popping up everywhere...And the best news is that the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) has risen over 62 centimeters since the beginning of January (@-212.99m, 1cm above the lower red line)… I am always reminded of my childhood on Tu B’Shvat... We received baggies tied with twisties filled with really dried fruit and there was always yucky dried up carob and I never really got it. WHY did we have to eat this and WHAT did it have to do with Israel and WHY did it taste so bad? I think I get it now. And the fruit tastes great here!"
Thank you Esther, I get it now too. I think of my ancestors who dreamt of a return to Zion, who celebrated Tu B'Shvat in the freezing weather as it is in Eastern Europe, or somewhere else in the world. How difficult it must have been to imagine the "Shkedia Porachat", the Almond Tree bloom or flowers blossom, in the dead of winter; and I think to myself - Ein li eretz acheret… I have no other land.
Thank you Yitro, the Median Priest, who reminds us of all that is great and holy in our world – davka this week during Tu B'Shvat as we witness the nature of things – here in Israel. Tu B'Shvat h'giya hag la'ilanot!

Why & how are we?

Jacob was to be known as Isra-el."...כי שרית עם אלוקים ועם אנשים, ותוכל..." (בראשית לב:כט) - 'Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast struggled with God and with humanity, and hast prevailed.' (Genesis 32:29). Isra-el struggles with God and with humanity. We, the People of Isra-el, maintain that struggle/interaction from time immemorial. Our collective narrative is safeguarded and remains relevant as a result of our interaction with life, generating questions & not accepting things as they are. The People of Israel, worldwide, are attempting to answer these questions through conferences, encounters, projects, books, articles, and so much more tackling Jewish Peoplehood, identity and Israel's religious make-up. Many of us are engaged in Tikun Israel, in confronting and overcoming our challenges – many more must join. Please post your ideas, questions, concerns, articles, and initiatives for all to see and consider getting involved in this movement of reclamation, of Tikun Israel.

שבת שירה

בשבת הקרוב, שבת שירה - אנו מוצאים חיזוק והשראה דרך שתי דמויות מרכזיות: מרים הנביאה ודבורה הנביאה ושופטת. כשחוצים בני ישראל את ים סוף, חוצים את קו העבדות לחירות. זה בעצם תחילת התפתחות בני ישראל --> לעם ישראל, "וַתִּקַּח מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה אֲחוֹת אַהֲרֹן, אֶת-הַתֹּף--בְּיָדָהּ; וַתֵּצֶאןָ כָל-הַנָּשִׁים אַחֲרֶיהָ, בְּתֻפִּים וּבִמְחֹלֹת. כא וַתַּעַן לָהֶם, מִרְיָם: שִׁירוּ לַה'..." (שמות טו:כ-כא). ובדמות השנייה: "ודבורה אישה נביאה...שפטה את ישראל בעת ההיא..." דבורה מצוה את ברק להילחם בסיסרא, והוא עונה לה: "וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ בָּרָק, אִם-תֵּלְכִי עִמִּי וְהָלָכְתִּי; וְאִם-לֹא תֵלְכִי עִמִּי, לֹא אֵלֵךְ..." (שופטים ד:ד-ח) בשני המקרים אנו עדים לנשים חזקות, אשר בקולם בני ישראל עוקבים. זה היה אז, היום אותו אישה חזקה עלולה להידחף לפינה של שתיקה. אוי לנו. ההתמודדות שלנו מול השתיקה מחייבת אותנו להסתכל אחורה ובעצם מעיין בנו. תיקון ישראל מחייבת אותנו לעסוק בחשבון נפש- גם ברמה האישי וגם ברמה הציבורי. יחד נדע מעין בנו ולאן אנחנו הולכים.

שבת שירה - The Sabbath of Song

This Shabbat, Shabbat Shira, we find strength and hope in two strong women: the Prophetess Miriam (sister of Moses and Aharon) and the Prophetess AND Judge Deborah. In the former, upon crossing the Sea of Reeds, "Miriam...took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam sang unto them: Sing ye to the LORD..." (Exodus 15:20-21). In the latter "Deborah, a prophetess,...judged Israel at that time." Commanding Barak to take on Sisera's army, Barak replies:'If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go.' (Judges 4:4-8). In both instances we find wise, strong women. Women whose voices are heard, whose voices our people followed. That was then; today we find ourselves in a dilema - strong women whose voices are surpressed. Engaging in Tikun Israel requires us to look back and know from where we came, by discovering the values of our ancestors - together we will know where we are headed.