Comments on: Happy Tu Bishvat

By: little ole me

little ole me — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:19:36 +0000

After the post by Kristine in Dec (regarding the 12 Days of Christmas and the Christian Calendar)–I thought I’d throw religious holidays that we don’t particularly observe on my branch’s Sunday bulletin (I prepare it). This holiday totally made the cut. I was quite impressed by this little holiday. I like holidays that carry a deeper meaning (than shopping) and I kinda like the fact that it’s neglected–a little gem to feast on if you’re lucky.

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â€œEverything in the vegetative kingdom grows upwards. We learn from trees that even though we are grounded, pulled to earth by the Desire To Receive for the Self Alone, it is by growing upward towards the Light that we can reach spiritual fulfillment. We too can tap into this power and defy our gravity â€“ depression, doubt, insecurity… Itâ€™s time to grow.â€ (From the Kabbalah newsletter)

â€œTu B’Shevat is a time for Jews to focus on “the Tree” — the Tree of Torah and the Tree of our own spiritual growth, and our potential for growth.â€ (Jewish site I found thru google)

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:18:24 +0000

Good Lord, is everyone on these Mormon blogs a lawyer? I’m new to the bloggernacle so I’m just discovering this.

Sorry for the threadjack, but jeez…

By: Ronan

Ronan — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 19:10:40 +0000

Kevin,
I was thinking more along the lines of the Tree of Knowledge!

By: Kevin Barney

Kevin Barney — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:28:49 +0000

Mark B., at my last law firm at Passover time there were large baskets of matsah everywhere for people to eat. I thought it was pretty cool.

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:10:14 +0000

Back in my corporate lawyer days, there were “Business Days” and there were “Olympia and York Business Days.” The former were all weekdays except U.S. legal holidays. The latter were all weekday except U.S. legal holidays and a whole laundry list of Jewish holidays, most of which the Jewish members of my firm (mostly non-religious) had never heard of.

But Tu Bishvat didn’t make it to that list–probably because of the lack of any prohibition on work.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:08:12 +0000

It’s nice to think that there is fruit ripening…somewhere. That can be hard to remember during a freezing winter. Thanks for the juicy info.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:04:16 +0000

Huh. Didn’t get so much as mentioned at Torah study at the synagogue this morning…

By: D. Allen

D. Allen — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:57:25 +0000

After my recent conversion, I had considered Mormonizing Jewish holidays. I kind of wonder why we don’t still observe Passover, Yom Kippur, etc., but that’s a whole other thread right there.

I would think that observance of an Earth-Day type celebration would be completely appropriate, considering that Rev 7:3 says “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees…” (slightly out of context, I know.) With all of our health rules, taking care of the planet seems to be built into our theology. Not to mention that the Old Testament (book, chapter, verse?) instructs you on how to bury your waste so it doesn’t contaminate your campsite or drinking water.

By: Kevin Barney

Kevin Barney — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:39:23 +0000

One of the local congregations mentioned in the Trib article is Etz Chayim, “The Tree of Life.”

I definitely think this is a holiday that lends itself to Mormonization.

By: Ronan

Ronan — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:27:35 +0000

We could Mormonize this and celebrate the numerous trees in Mormon mythology. Or not. Jewish Earth Day sounds cool.