Today’s bit of new knowledge:

Tu B’Shvat in the Jewish calendar begins this evening at sunset – New Year’s Day for Trees.  Here’s a bit of an explanation from Rabbi Yehuda Prero:

The Gemora, when discussing cures for ailments, writes that “a tree that loses its fruits before they ripen should be dyed with a red paint.” What is the point of dying the tree with red paint? How does the red paint prevent the tree from losing its fruits before they ripen? The point of painting the tree red, the Gemora explains, is the same as the leper calling out that he is impure. When people will pass by and see a red tree, they will know that they are seeing a tree that is not producing fruits properly and is not thriving. As soon as they become aware of this situation, they will pray that the tree should be cured of whatever affliction is causing it to lose its fruit.

This Gemora teaches us how we are to value our trees. The Gemora does not it is praiseworthy to pray for the welfare of trees. It does not say that praying for the health of trees is a preferred practice. It says that the red paint is there so that people will see the tree and will pray for the tree. It presumes that people will most definitely pray for the tree the same way people will pray for one of their brethren who is a leper. The health of our trees is vital, and the Gemora lets us know how vital: we take active measures to assure that people will be aware of the predicament of the tree and pray for it!

“The health of our trees is vital.”  This is indeed true.  Whether Haiti, Kenya, Pakistan or the Philippines, it seems that all kinds of bad things start to happen when we lose our trees. Possibly because they are so slow growing and so large, trees seem to play a key role in rainfall patterns, erosion, flood control, drought prevention – not to mention wildlife habitat and food supplies for people.

I’m sure most of us have had experience of friends (or maybe even ourselves) being involved in a home remodeling job.  Some of us are satisfied with a new carpet or coat of paint – others get a bit crazy and like to do things like moving walls around – or removing them altogether.  Those who do the latter, however, have to be really careful – some walls are fine to take down or move around.  Others cannot be touched because they are “load-bearing walls” – they hold up the roof – or the floor above.

Our trees are load-bearing walls in the house of God’s creation.

On this new year’s day for trees, let’s remember that.  And if praying ‘for’ the trees is a stretch for you, at least let’s thank God for giving us these trees, and be thankful!

[Thanks to Paul Jacobsen for this tip... ]