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Post by alon on Feb 2, 2015 16:44:29 GMT -8
This Wednesday is the 15th of Shevat, the Jewish new year for trees.
Leviticus 19:23-25 (ESV) "When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD. But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the LORD your God.
The first of Shevat is the new year for trees according to the ruling of Beit Shammai; Beit Hillel, however, places it on the fifteenth of the month. (Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1) Most of Judaism follows the School of Hillel. I don't think it would matter, as long as we picked one day and stick with it. I am a Shamamite, however I follow Rav Hillel on this one, mostly because that is the one any Jewish calendar I've ever gotten has listed; and without that remnder I'd forget ... 
Tu B'Shevatis a holiday, the New Year for Trees. Itis the new year for calculating the age of trees for tithing. Lev. 19:23-25, states that fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years- the fourth year's fruit is for G-d- we may eat the fruit of the 5th year on.
This is a shmitah year (5775/2015), when the land is to lay fallow. So celebrations are different this year. I provided links at the bottom for more information.
Tu B'Shevat itself is not mentioned in the  . However the command on how the fruit is to be used IS in , and it is a positive commandment from God. The holiday reminds us how we are to use and apportion the fruit from our trees.
Read more: www.jewfaq.org/holiday8.htmRecipies: www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Tu_Bishvat.shtmlShmitah yer celebration: www.breakingisraelnews.com/28815/5-ways-to-celebrate-tu-bshevat-during-the-shmita-year-jewish-world/#B89G7epEcM4PoKcW.97Dan C
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Post by alon on Feb 3, 2015 19:28:32 GMT -8
Condensed from an email from the Messianic Prophecy Bible Project:“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon.” (Psalm 92:12)
The holiday of Tu B’Shvat—the New Year of Trees—begins tonight at sunset in Israel.
Although the traditions attached to this holiday are deeply rooted in Jewish history, one of the newer traditions is tree planting. Throughout Israel, people are outside planting saplings today—students, families, employees, soldiers, and new olim (immigrants). …
Its blossoms remind us of the miracles that the Lord (Adonai) has in store for us. Just as the coldest, darkest winters always end, and the earth brings forth fruit, so too in our lives: even the darkest of days end and God has something fresh in store for us.
"Blessed is the one … whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." (Psalm 1:1–3)
As we celebrate the growth of trees that produce oxygen for us to breathe and fruit to eat, we remember that many Bible verses compare people to the trees of the field.
"When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees of the field people, that you should besiege them?" (Deuteronomy 20:19)
"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." (Isaiah 61:3)
Tu B’Shvat is a day to ask ourselves if we, like a tree, are reaching upward toward the Light. Are we making sure that our fruit is sweet, and that we are adding another ring of growth in the Lord as each year passes? Also, are we nurturing the potential in others by caring for those saplings that have been entrusted to us, watering them and sheltering them?
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives." (Proverbs 11:30)
www.messianicbible.com/
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Post by alon on Feb 4, 2015 15:23:30 GMT -8
“I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.” (Psalm 52:8)
The oldest reference to this holiday is found in the Talmud (first and second century book of rabbinic decisions), where it is called Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot (New Year of the Trees). Traditionally the holiday is referred to as Hamisha Asar B’Shvat, which means Fifteenth of Shvat. In modern Israel, it became Tu B’Shvat.
The term orlah (literally, uncircumcised) refers to the prohibitions mentioned in Leviticus 19:23 against the eating of fruit from trees during the first three years after they are planted. The term Neta Reva'i refers to the fruits of the fourth year and the commandment in Leviticus 19:24 to bring a tithe of the fourth year fruit crops to the Temple in Jerusalem, for they are holy.
In determining when these years begin and end, Tu B’Shvat became the cut-off date for calculating the age of fruit-bearing trees.Any tree planted in the previouse year has fulfilled the requirements for that year; a tree planted on the 14th of Shevat is calculated as being one year old on Tu B’Shevat.
Planting trees on Tu B’Shevat, as well as focusing on ecological issues and the stewardship of the world HaShem has given us for this day is part of Tikkun Olam, the repairing of the world.
Condensed from the Messianic Bible prophecy Project
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Post by garrett on Jan 24, 2016 18:37:55 GMT -8
I would break ground to plant a tree but I think the ground would break my shovel during this time of year. So...I've watered the plant by my window.
- garrett
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 25, 2016 7:45:30 GMT -8
So in Judaism to celebrate we get to plant trees, and in Christianity to celebrate we had to cut them down. Just one more example of why a based approach to life is altogether better. |
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Post by jimmie on Jan 25, 2016 15:33:45 GMT -8
[font color="111111In determining when these years begin and end, Tu B’Shvat became the cut-off date for calculating the age of fruit-bearing trees.Any tree planted in the previouse year has fulfilled the requirements for that year; a tree planted on the 14th of Shevat is calculated as being one year old on Tu B’Shevat. [/font][/quote] Looks as though this is a fulfilling of the letter of the law and not the spirit. A Tree planted on the 14th in not a year older than a tree planted on the 15th. This is the sort of things that Jesus was against. |
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Post by alon on Jan 25, 2016 17:16:12 GMT -8
I disagree. There has to be a standard in place, otherwise anyone can do as they see fit. Follow your heart, because that's where everything is written now, right? Yeshua never said that!
Yael Eckstein just did a short video clip where she gave the reason that the new year for trees is now, in winter rather than in spring when trees are in flower, or later when they bear fruit. Right now is when newness of life begins to emerge, even in older trees. Now is when the sap begins to rise. This is the time of newness of life. So whether a new seedling, a sprout being transplanted, or an older, established tree, this is when life emerges.
There are obvious parallels in our spiritual life; lessons we can meditate on. This, as most things in Judaism, is not just some arbitrary "LAW." Christianity translates everything as "LAWS"- things to be abhorred, shunned, and done away with; even . We see them as instructions for life and life's lessons, to be internalized and followed.
Leviticus 19:23-25 (ESV) "When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD. But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the LORD your God.
Elohim our God said it, so it is so. Some might argue this only applies in Israel. Others would keep this instruction anyhow to honor God wherever we are. You don't have to do it at all. And you can date your trees however you wish if you do. But you should know why things are done before you decide the Rabbis were fools sent to enslave you with their laws. More often than not, they knew what they were doing.
Dan C
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Post by jimmie on Jan 26, 2016 6:10:31 GMT -8
Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. [/p] Dan C
[/quote] Our God said 3 Years not 2 years and one day. I guess I will be sticking with 3 years. |
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Post by alon on Jan 26, 2016 10:18:33 GMT -8
And that is fine. However I would point out that this is in fact the legalistic view, keeping the letter of the law.
Keeping the spirit of the law is more taking the view of the Hebrew sages who interpreted this. After all, it was the Jews God chose to entrust with His word:
Romans 3:1-2 (ESV) Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
I have to think God knew how the Jews thought; and the sages devoted their lives to seeking the mind of God.
So if you wish to count exact years, by all means feel free. However to imply that others following the Jewish convention are legalists is both inaccurate and antagonistic. It may also reveal latent anti-Semitism in yourself. That is not an accusation, as we all deal with this problem if raised in Christian churches and western schools. We tend to see things rigidly, in black and white; "the law is the law and a commandment is a law and it must be obeyed to the letter!" The Hebraic mindset is different, generally applying a broader view of instructions rather than laws. Going against our own inclinations is difficult, and so it is much easier to go against (be anti) this different (Semitic) way of thinking. I choose to try and see things as the Hebrew sages and later Rabbis did. Am I right?
Well, is either way completely wrong?
Dan C
edit: Charges of legalism against Jews and Meshiachim is a very Christian thing to do as well. This is how we are taught to react in churches everywhere. I would suggest that turning this around to use against other Meshiachim who keep the Rabbinic interpretations is just as wrong and divisive. And we need to get past the Christian teaching that "Jesus hated the Pharisees (read that Jews) because they kept the letter and not the spirit of the law." Yeshua was Himself a Pharisee and a Rabbi with a rather large following. He never addressed this issue in recorded scripture, so we don't know for sure how He viewed it. But He did say this:
Matthew 23:2-3 (ESV) “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
Christians focus on that last part, but they ignore the part about obedience. Or they equate it to obedience to their pastor, then go hire one who will say what the want. Then they charge anyone keeping either the letter or the spirit of the "law" with being "legalistic." We need to move away from such practices.
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Post by jimmie on Jan 26, 2016 15:35:59 GMT -8
Yes it is so  that they were given the advantage of Gods Law yet they seek to circumvent it, at least with this law. Jesus definitely had a problem with the scribes and Pharisees. See Matt 23:23. Now a typical Christian will look at that verse and claim that Jesus was getting on to the scribes and Pharisees because they were being too meticulous with the law when tithing their mint and such. However Jesus affirms that they are correct in giving their tithes of the spices. Jesus’ problem with them stems from their omissions of the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith. Just because God gave the Jews the advantage of His law it does not necessarily follow that they keep it perfectly. The Bible is full of stories of their failures. But then it is also filled with stories about their success. We should recognize and learn from both. A question regarding instruction verse law. If one does not follow the instruction of God, is not he punished? One definition of Law is: a body of principles or precepts held to express the divine will as revealed in the Bible. Also a law by its’ very nature carries an instruction. In regards to Matt 23:2-3, it is easy to see why the typical Christian focuses on the last part since the rest of the chapter is an all-out refruitation of the scribes and Pharisee’s actions that we must avoid so that our righteousness can exceed theirs. In regards to the obedience portion, my understanding is we should obey God rather than men. So Jesus’ instruction to “obey them” refers to “Moses’ seat” or God’s Word and not to the scribes and Pharisees. Now we are in other places told to “obey them that have the rule over us.” Since all authority comes from God, no one has the rule over me unless God gives it to them. Therefore I am under no obligation to obey a command from anyone when that conflicts with God’s commands. |
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Post by alon on Jan 26, 2016 16:26:34 GMT -8
Yes it is so that they were given the advantage of Gods Law yet they seek to circumvent it, at least with this law. Jesus definitely had a problem with the scribes and Pharisees. See Matt 23:23. Now a typical Christian will look at that verse and claim that Jesus was getting on to the scribes and Pharisees because they were being too meticulous with the law when tithing their mint and such. However Jesus affirms that they are correct in giving their tithes of the spices. Jesus’ problem with them stems from their omissions of the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith. Just because God gave the Jews the advantage of His law it does not necessarily follow that they keep it perfectly. The Bible is full of stories of their failures. But then it is also filled with stories about their success. We should recognize and learn from both. A question regarding instruction verse law. If one does not follow the instruction of God, is not he punished? One definition of Law is: a body of principles or precepts held to express the divine will as revealed in the Bible. Also a law by its’ very nature carries an instruction. In regards to Matt 23:2-3, it is easy to see why the typical Christian focuses on the last part since the rest of the chapter is an all-out refruitation of the scribes and Pharisee’s actions that we must avoid so that our righteousness can exceed theirs. In regards to the obedience portion, my understanding is we should obey God rather than men. So Jesus’ instruction to “obey them” refers to “Moses’ seat” or God’s Word and not to the scribes and Pharisees. Now we are in other places told to “obey them that have the rule over us.” Since all authority comes from God, no one has the rule over me unless God gives it to them. Therefore I am under no obligation to obey a command from anyone when that conflicts with God’s commands. Much of what you write here is true, however there are some holdovers from your Christian roots that need to be addressed.
First off, the Pharisees were a sect, and a very large one at that. They were in fact the largest sect in Israel at the time, numbering in the thousands upon thousands. Even their scribes would probably have numbered in the thousands. And as has been pointed out on this forum before, Yeshua Himself was a Pharisee and a Rabbi, which is really the next level up from a scribe. And many of the people, particularly the Pharisees, did follow Yeshua. So to say he was condemning all Pharisees, or even all their leadership is patently false.
Next, in the rest of Mat 23 Yeshua excoriates the leadership for adding too much to , thus making it too difficult for anyone to obey. Nowhere does He say they are circumventing the "law"; quite the opposite, in fact.
Pointing out that some of the Jews failed to keep the "law" miserably, while excusing themselves from keeping even the ten "laws" they so magnanimously decided were valid is both typically Christian and absolutely anti-Semitic. "Them evil Jews, they couldn't obey God; but He likes us more 'cause He gave us grace!" Right ... we absolutely need to disabuse ourselves of this kind of thinking.
Your definition of "law" is a Christian/English one, and has no bearing on how the Jews would see or interpret .
Mat 23:2-3 clearly states "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you." How can you get from that it refers to obeying the seat (representing God's Word), or more to the point what you think the seat says? This is another Christian interpretation designed to allow them to "follow their hearts." Yes, if something the Rabbis say clearly goes against God's Word then don't do it! But to just attack every word any Rabbi says, which you tend to do, is wrong. Yeshua (the Word) said it, so why do you "kick against the goads?" Didn't He also say that was hard? These men have been studying and obeying for 3500 yrs. Just maybe they have some insights that would be valuable. Some also have some really crazy ideas, I agree. And we don't do those crazy things, again agreed. But I have shed the yoke of Christianity, where most of even the good guys ideas are contrary to all 66 books of their own Bible! That is what brings most of us here. So why do you regurgitate the teachings of the church over those of any Messianic interpretations?
You go on to say we are to obey those who have authority over us- if this is true, again, why automatically take the Christian view over the Rabbinical whenever anything is said? We do not follow Rabbinical Judaism, so no, in my opinion they have no authority over us. That does not mean everything they say is wrong. And certainly the Messianic interpretations are not wrong just because your pastor said they were! I'll take the authority of a Messianic Rabbi who is genuinely seeking the truth over any pastor with a doctorate in false teachings any day!
Dan C
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Post by jimmie on Jan 27, 2016 5:58:50 GMT -8
I think you may have overlooked some of my statements that affirm some of the Pharisees actions. I have relisted them below.
But then it (the Bible) is also filled with stories about their success.
However Jesus affirms that they (the Pharisees) are correct in giving their tithes of the spices.
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Post by alon on Jan 15, 2019 22:35:46 GMT -8
Tu B'Shevat is next Sunday evening>Monday; 20 & 21 January. If the ground is frozen and winter still too bitter where you are, you might consider starting a tree indoors, then planting it next Spring.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Jan 27, 2021 12:18:17 GMT -8
This evening at sundown, Wed, 27 Jan 2021 to sundown tomorrow is Tu B'Shevat.
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. However the command on how the fruit is to be used IS in 
that they were given the advantage of Gods Law yet they seek to circumvent it, at least with this law. 
