Are you drawn to nature? Do you pine for mountains? Valleys? Waterfalls? Do you relish in the few breaths of fresh air that you get going from the house to the car and the car into the office?
Nature is a hot commodity these days. Its value has only increased as we have less of it to experience in the rush of everyday life. Perhaps that’s why Tu B’Shevat is so exciting. Finally, a moment to pause and be grateful for the trees that are ever dwindling, the fruit that is so abundant in our stores but disconnected from its source.
I remember visiting one of my mother’s friends at her moshav while I was in seminary in Israel. She had an incredible spread of trees around her yard. The one that captured my heart the most was a pecan tree. I had never seen one in my life. The flowers around the shells, which opened to reveal a pecan, resembled oysters protecting their precious pearls. Each pecan was nestled in its own lovely home! That deepened my understanding of the Midrash Rabba, Bereishit 10:6 that says that each blade of grass has an angel telling it to “grow!”
You can sense the angels hovering over fruit trees when you see them. As we know, fruit trees are sacred. We cannot cut down a fruit tree, even at a time of battle.
When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them? However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls. (Deuteronomy 20:19-20)
Most commentators on the Chumash rush to explain these pesukim that give stark warning against harming trees. Equally puzzling is the idea to give fruit trees true reverence by comparing trees to people or people to trees. (Depending on how you look at it!)
One fascinating answer is in the Ibn Ezra who says about the phrase Lo Tashchis Eitz Pri/ It (a tree) is not like a person that can run away from you. Therefore, harming it takes things a step further—perhaps a powerful lesson in itself: Don’t pick on those who can’t defend themselves.
He continues to say: Ki Hadam Eitz HaSadeh/ Man’s life depends on the tree of the field.
To expand on this concept from the Ibn Ezra: If you cut down this tree, you don’t know whose life you will be impacting. Could it be this tree is here for a future person who needs nourishment and not having that tree around will cause that person to die in the wilderness? You can’t cut it down to build a siege.
Only cut down a tree that is not bearing fruit.
From a psychological perspective, this directive to pause before destroying every tree in sight to build a siege teaches us that our perceived emergency may not be as urgent as it seems. In a world lacking boundaries, Judaism provides a clear framework for prioritizing when to stop and when to move ahead.
It is the trees that constantly call us to stop and think. To reflect before we act and swing our axe. You know, axe throwing in those days actually cut down trees!
Wishing everyone a meaningful Tu B’Shevat this year!
Esther Kost, a born sabra, has spent over a decade working in both Jewish Educational settings and Tech Startups. She is passionate about sharing Torah insights and is a regular guest speaker at Shabbos Glory Shabbatons. She also leads women’s drumming circles and sound meditations, blending rhythm and spirituality to foster connection and inner healing. Esther works with groups and individuals and can be reached at [email protected]
