Wow, so much has happened since last we wrote. I've turned thirty. Julie's been learning herbs finally, with an amazing teacher. We get to learn the deepest depths of wisdom that our tradition has to offer on a daily basis, and we live in perhaps the most intersting city in history. All in all, it's a good life. The only thing missing is all of you. So we are purchasing tickets for you to visit. We will be sending them all out shortly. Check your mail.
So yesterday was Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish birthday of the trees. Growing up, we celebrated this event by giving money to our temple. In turn, we got a little certificate stating that we now have a singular tree planted in our name somewhere in the land of Israel. I think every kid had some vision of visiting Israel and seeing a forest of trees, each tree containing a plaque with his or her name on it. so as to not get your hopes up, it's not true.
However, the idea that we celebrate the onset of spring by celebrating the trees always had some appeal to me, though it was always very incongrous with reality. Tu B'shvat always happens in Februrary where in Israel the blooms are starting to burst forth. Meanwhile back in Cleveland, we're up to our pupiks in snow, with no end in sight. Thus, Tu B'shvat was more of a symbolic celebration.
So imagine that I'm here, and it's the middle of february, and I see an almond tree blossoming. Small fragrant white floweres everywhere you look. Our school went on a hike down into the Jerusalem forest for the day, and everywhere I looked were these flowers, along with many other types of blooms.
It got me thinking about how in tune the Jewish Calander is with the natural cycle of Israel. It's a calander we've carried with us through out history to remember our holidays and our history, but it also formost connects us to the land.
So for all of you suffering through the snow, please know that part of me misses it. My soul loves the cold. and in a city made primarily of stone, which holds the cold in fairly well, I do get a certain degree of chill. but the fact that winter is coming to a close. That's pretty cool too.
Love you all.
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