Laura and I spent the first year of our rabbinic school program in Jerusalem with many other classmates studying to become rabbis, cantors and Jewish educators.
But on Shabbat we didn’t study.
One of our typical Shabbat activities was to gather at a local park (It was actually at the foot of the K’nesset – Israel’s Parliament.), and toss a frisbee around. We often played Ultimate Frisbee, a fun, soccer-like game with the flying disc.
Commonly, students from one of the other rabbinic seminaries would walk by while we played and every time they did, we would challenge them to a game of Ultimate and, each time, they would refuse, saying that they could not do so on Shabbat.
I remember finally asking what was it about playing Frisbee that violated traditional Sabbath observance… tearing grass. What?! Yep, tearing grass. To tear is prohibited on Shabbat and running on the lawn could lead to tearing the grass and this would violate Shabbat rules. Really?! I still think they were just worried about losing to a bunch of liberal seminarians.
Anyway, as I sit here remembering this fascinating interpretation of Jewish law, I’m reminded that today is Tu B’shvat, the 15th day of the month of Sh’vat on the Jewish calendar. It’s considered the New Year for the trees and has become a modern, Jewish Arbor Day, a day of Jewish environmental consciousness.
That I can appreciate.
And, with that consciousness in mind, I can appreciate a sensitivity not to destroy the greenery that surrounds us, that not only gives us oxygen and so many other resources, but also gives us beauty.
Shabbat is meant to be a time to appreciate the gift of Creation and Tu B’shvat specifically reminds us to appreciate the trees. So, this Shabbat, I’ll especially focus my appreciation for God’s gifts on flora, and I’ll pass on Frisbee (we tend to hit a lot of trees with those flying discs.)... at least until next week.
Now, go hug a tree! ...or plant one in Israel... JNF.org
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