“There is nothing new under the sun!”
Ecclesiastes 1:9

These famous Jewish words often ring in my ears. How true that we think we are being creative only to repeat something that has already been tried. When it comes to taking care of the environment, we are certainly not the first to say we care. It is really an ancient Jewish ideal.

“When God created the first human beings, the Lord led them around the Garden of Eden and said, "Look at My works! See how beautiful they are! I created them for your sake. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy my world – for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.”
Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:29

Judaism teaches that although it was created for our sake, the world does not belong to us. It is God's. We have it on loan. And it is up to us to pass it down, unspoiled and intact, to the next generation. We have the power to take care of our garden.

And yet, we see all around us that we have violated this part of our covenant, and in the process, lost part of our purpose. Why now do I focus on this issue? As the earth is literally beginning the process of waking from winter, we prepare for spring. We don't see it yet but life is starting to return – buds getting ready to form, and seeds stirring. We celebrate in the Jewish calendar with Tu BiShvat, the New Year of the Trees.

The first Mishna in the tractate of Rosh HaShanah tells us that there are four "new years." One for trees, one for tithes of animals, one for kings, and the new year celebration of years. If it sounds complicated, just think about how we mark our own year: taxes, school, summer, semester and so on.

The Kabbalists of the 16th century marked the turn of the seasons with a special seder for Tu BiShvat. This Friday durign Shabbat services we will do the same, and celebrate a Tu Bishvat seder together as a congregation. We hope that you will join us!