Tu B’Shevat Message
The 15th of Shevat, is the New Year for Trees - when it is customary to eat fruits, especially the seven species with which the land of Israel is blessed.
The Torah in parshas Shoftim (Devorim 20,19) says ki hadam eitz hasadeh, a man is compared to a tree of a field. When we plant a tree, especially one that bears fruit, it is necessary to ensure the soil is full of nutrients, that there is plenty of sunlight and water. As the tree grows it may need support or pruning. If we look after it carefully, we should hopefully see it producing fruit.
This is a parable for ourselves. A Jew’s goal should be to do mitzvos, learn torah, and do good deeds. These are our spiritual goals, but to attain these ‘fruits’ one has to make sure the ground is right with all the ingredients, and that we improve and work on ourselves once we start to grow. This is an ongoing, lifelong process, just like a tree continues to grow and become taller.
May we merit to see the fruits of our labour, both individually and communally.
The 15th of Shevat, is the New Year for Trees - when it is customary to eat fruits, especially the seven species with which the land of Israel is blessed.
The Torah in parshas Shoftim (Devorim 20,19) says ki hadam eitz hasadeh, a man is compared to a tree of a field. When we plant a tree, especially one that bears fruit, it is necessary to ensure the soil is full of nutrients, that there is plenty of sunlight and water. As the tree grows it may need support or pruning. If we look after it carefully, we should hopefully see it producing fruit.
This is a parable for ourselves. A Jew’s goal should be to do mitzvos, learn torah, and do good deeds. These are our spiritual goals, but to attain these ‘fruits’ one has to make sure the ground is right with all the ingredients, and that we improve and work on ourselves once we start to grow. This is an ongoing, lifelong process, just like a tree continues to grow and become taller.
May we merit to see the fruits of our labour, both individually and communally.
Tisha B'Av
Turning the saddest day of the year into a profound learning experience
Online drop-in learning session
Constructive Mourning: How we can turn Tisha B'Av into a life-changing moment for ourselves and for our nation by learning from our past mistakes -- led by Etan Blass
Thursday 30th July from 9:30am until chatzos (1:06pm)
Click here at 9:30pm on Thursday to be directed on how to join in
Click here in advance to receive the password
Please feel free to come in and out anytime throughout the morning.
We will go through some of the Jewish sources on what caused us to have our capital destroyed, leading to nearly 2,000 years of persecution while in exile. Where did we go wrong, as individuals and as a nation? Most importantly, are we still making the same mistakes (and will we decide to correct them)?
We'll discuss and look at early Jewish sources on:
Constructive Mourning: How we can turn Tisha B'Av into a life-changing moment for ourselves and for our nation by learning from our past mistakes -- led by Etan Blass
Thursday 30th July from 9:30am until chatzos (1:06pm)
Click here at 9:30pm on Thursday to be directed on how to join in
Click here in advance to receive the password
Please feel free to come in and out anytime throughout the morning.
We will go through some of the Jewish sources on what caused us to have our capital destroyed, leading to nearly 2,000 years of persecution while in exile. Where did we go wrong, as individuals and as a nation? Most importantly, are we still making the same mistakes (and will we decide to correct them)?
We'll discuss and look at early Jewish sources on:
- Why the destruction of Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago is relevant to us today
- What is the goal of fasting on this day of mourning?
- How our ancestors caused the destruction of Jerusalem the first time, as told in Sefer Yirmiyah (Jeremiah), and the crucial lessons we can learn today from those mistakes
- The story of how our ancestors caused the destruction of Jerusalem the second and final time, as told in the Talmud, and the crucial lessons we can learn today from those mistakes
- Kinos - some of the exquisite, poignant poems traditionally recited on Tisha B'Av morning
- Excerpts from Josephus's account of the destruction of Jerusalem and what we can learn today
Tisha B'Av Shiur with Yakov Korer and Rabbi Simcha Blum
Thursday 30th July 8:30pm
Click here at 8:30pm on Thursday to be directed on how to join in
Click here in advance to receive the password
From the Past into the Present and Future - Mr Yakov Korer will share some interesting and inspiring sources on where we go from here, as we mourn what we lost but also look for glimmers of hope
Tisha B’Av Shiur - led by our shul rabbi, Rabbi Simcha Blum
Thursday 30th July 8:30pm
Click here at 8:30pm on Thursday to be directed on how to join in
Click here in advance to receive the password
From the Past into the Present and Future - Mr Yakov Korer will share some interesting and inspiring sources on where we go from here, as we mourn what we lost but also look for glimmers of hope
Tisha B’Av Shiur - led by our shul rabbi, Rabbi Simcha Blum
