From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, January 31,February 1, 2025/2,3 Shevat, 5785 with Rosh Chodesh of Shevat will be on January 30.
The Torah portion with Moses and Aaron continuing to plead with Pharaoh to let the Israelites go free. Pharaoh continues to refuse, and the Egyptians are punished with the last three of the Ten Plagues, which are locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn. Now Pharaoh lets the Israelite go. The Israelites proclaim that each year, on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month (Jewish calendar Nisan), a festival lasting seven days (Pesach/Passover, for those living in Israel, the diaspora will be eight days) will be observed to recall their freedom from Egyptian bondage. Matzah (unleavened bread) will be eaten for seven days.
Rosh Chodesh: New Month is according to G-d’s command (Exodus 12:2), which is the month of the Exodus and was the first month of the Jewish calendar. This proclamation was to have a new Jewish calendar to replace the Egyptian method of counting marked time, and this was the final break for Israel with Egypt. The minhag/custom in ancient times was to celebrate Rosh Chodesh with special offerings to present to G-d. Since Jews today do not have a Holy Temple in Jerusalem a special Torah reading recalling the sacrificial offerings with the recitation of Hallel psalms of praise are marked in the synagogue. It is a symbolic day of renewal and reflection for many Jews. It provides one to look at the past month and suggests ways of improving ourselves in the month ahead.
A Brief history of Tu B’Shevat/ The festival of Trees.
Tu B’Shevat is the beginning of a new cycle for the tithe on fruit trees. Before the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E., 10 percent of all produce was set aside for the support of the priestly class and the poor.
Tu B’Shevat in Hebrew means “the 15th day of the month of Shevat” marking the beginning of a new fiscal year for tithing.
According to the ancient tradition, this requires sharing the bounty of the land with those in need, allowing the land to rest during the sabbatical year (every seventh year), redistributing land every 50 years (the Jubilee) and maintaining the integrity of the land to sustain future generations.
In the 1600’s Jewish mystics in Safed, Northern Israel created a minor festival seder, a slight copy of the Passover seder. Participants eat four different categories of fruit and four different combinations of red and white or juice, symbolizing the four seasons and the mystical “four worlds.”
Next Shabbat I will list the special symbolic items.
This week we witnessed an horrific airline crash with an armed forces helicopter.
May our prayers and our thoughts comfort those that lost their lives and their families that are now in mourning.
We also pray for the Hostages that are slowly being released from Hamas and returning to their loved ones. May we see ALL the Hostages returned speedily to the rest of the families that are still waiting.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
