Tu BeShevat – A Day of Perceptible Belief
It is well known, that which is essential for the existence of Man, is more commonly found in Creation. Silver and Gold which is not essential for man’s existence is hard to come by. Bread which man cannot exist without, is easier to obtain. Air which no creature can exist without, is very plentiful in Creation. This applies to the physical world. Regarding the spiritual worl, Harav Simcha Zissel Ziv, “The Alter fuhn Kelm” writes, “Being that it is impossible for a person to live without Emunah, Belief in the Creator, as the verse state, “The righteous live by their faith”, so Emunah can be found in everywhere at every turn; “The world is full of Your creations”! But (alas) Man’s eyes are blindfolded to this reality. He wanders around like a blind man and does not see the Creator.
“Raise your eyes and see, ‘Who created all of these!” The Russian pilot who soars in his jet throughout the length and breadth of the sky to the highest places in heaven claims, “I searched for Hashem in the highest heavens and I did not find Him” If he was unsuccessful in seeing Hashem up there at every turn and down here on earth – what purpose is there then for the blind to search, to feel his way in the darkness?
Dovid Hamelech says in Tehilim, “When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars that You have established. Indeed Dovid Hamelech saw [Hashem]! He knew how to thank and praise Hashem for each and every breath that he took. Dovid had a clear perception of Hashem that “He is the One who gives life to all”. Man’s life is totally dependent on the word of “the One who spoke and the World came into existence” Without Hashem Man is considered lifeless.
The wicked [son – of the Pesach Haggadah’s infamy] asks, “What is this service that you perform [for Hashem]? What is he asking? Did he not see what everyone else say? The wonders and miracles Hashem performed for the Jewish people in Egypt and on the Sea?
The answer is: Ultimately he did not see what everyone saw! He is spiritually blind in both eyes! He is devoid of Yiras Shomayim, fear of Heaven – and without Yiras Shomayim it is impossible to see Hashem.
Harav Hagaon Rav Moshe Rosenshtein zt’l, Mashgiach, Spiritual Dean, of the Lomze Yeshiva in Poland used to say, "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord;” (Tehillim 111:10), "The beginning of wisdom…”, “To have even the minutest amount of wisdom one needs to have some amount of Yiras Shomayim. For without Fear of Heaven, there is no intelligence. One is dependent on the other.”
So what is it about Tu Beshvat that has the power to bring someone to Emunah? From all of the special days throughout the year that one can observe the greatness of the Creator from among all of His wondrous creations; it is the day of Tu Beshavat. It is a day that we [have the custom] to taste of the various new fruits. When one contemplates the makeup of each variety of fruit; its growth and, development, one can come to a small percentage of the wisdom that is inherent in the whole of creation. He is like the child that receives a delicious apple from his parents and he cries out, “Father; Mother!” out of sheer joy of receiving such a delicious treat. Thus, from the apples, figs, grapes, dates, etc. one can see the “father” – our Father in Heaven, that created all these treats that are man’s pleasures.
Tu BeShvat – a day of perceptive belief in the Creator, Blessed be He…
“Raise your eyes and see, ‘Who created all of these!” The Russian pilot who soars in his jet throughout the length and breadth of the sky to the highest places in heaven claims, “I searched for Hashem in the highest heavens and I did not find Him” If he was unsuccessful in seeing Hashem up there at every turn and down here on earth – what purpose is there then for the blind to search, to feel his way in the darkness?
Dovid Hamelech says in Tehilim, “When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars that You have established. Indeed Dovid Hamelech saw [Hashem]! He knew how to thank and praise Hashem for each and every breath that he took. Dovid had a clear perception of Hashem that “He is the One who gives life to all”. Man’s life is totally dependent on the word of “the One who spoke and the World came into existence” Without Hashem Man is considered lifeless.
The wicked [son – of the Pesach Haggadah’s infamy] asks, “What is this service that you perform [for Hashem]? What is he asking? Did he not see what everyone else say? The wonders and miracles Hashem performed for the Jewish people in Egypt and on the Sea?
The answer is: Ultimately he did not see what everyone saw! He is spiritually blind in both eyes! He is devoid of Yiras Shomayim, fear of Heaven – and without Yiras Shomayim it is impossible to see Hashem.
Harav Hagaon Rav Moshe Rosenshtein zt’l, Mashgiach, Spiritual Dean, of the Lomze Yeshiva in Poland used to say, "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord;” (Tehillim 111:10), "The beginning of wisdom…”, “To have even the minutest amount of wisdom one needs to have some amount of Yiras Shomayim. For without Fear of Heaven, there is no intelligence. One is dependent on the other.”
So what is it about Tu Beshvat that has the power to bring someone to Emunah? From all of the special days throughout the year that one can observe the greatness of the Creator from among all of His wondrous creations; it is the day of Tu Beshavat. It is a day that we [have the custom] to taste of the various new fruits. When one contemplates the makeup of each variety of fruit; its growth and, development, one can come to a small percentage of the wisdom that is inherent in the whole of creation. He is like the child that receives a delicious apple from his parents and he cries out, “Father; Mother!” out of sheer joy of receiving such a delicious treat. Thus, from the apples, figs, grapes, dates, etc. one can see the “father” – our Father in Heaven, that created all these treats that are man’s pleasures.
Tu BeShvat – a day of perceptive belief in the Creator, Blessed be He…
Source: “Chaim Sheyaish Bohem” quoting Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv in Sefer Darkei Mussar
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