In honour of Tu b'Shvat [which falls on Shabbat this week] - the new year for trees. To learn more about the customs of eating fruits go to The Seven Species of Israel
from the writings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov; translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
Many types of fruit do not grow in some lands, only because people do not understand.
The world has a foundation stone. Channels emanate from this stone, reaching every land. The Midrash teaches us that the wise King Solomon knew the details of these channels and was therefore able to plant all types of trees.
If people knew the exact location of these subterranean channels, they would be able to grow fruit trees even in these lands. They could grow many that never grow there now.
Each channel has the power to stimulate a particular species. Even if a particular channel does not pass through one land, all channels are intertwined and flow into each other. If one knew the exact place, he could plant any type of tree.
If one knew the location of all channels, he could dig a well and know where to plant trees around it. He could then make any type of tree grow.
The foundation stone of the world constantly rises and descends. If one knows its position, then he knows what to plant at a particular time.
All these things are concealed from the world for some things may not be revealed.
People say that the world is gaining knowledge, but earlier generations made the primary discoveries, and this took the greatest wisdom.
Later generations make discoveries only because earlier ones prepared the way. One generation makes the basic discoveries, and later generations apply them, but the latter contribution is really the smaller.
The Talmud says "If you would not have removed the piece of clay, you would not have found the jewel under it."
There are things that may not be revealed, for if they were revealed, later generations would make an idol of them. There is knowledge that may not be revealed, for later generations would use the basic knowledge and continually add to it, often irresponsibly. They could then develop concepts leading to cataclysmic discoveries.
It is written [Lev. 19:23] "When you enter your land and plant any tree... three years shall its fruit be forbidden to you". The Zohar teaches us that the evil forces of klipah dwell in trees duirng these first three years.
Earlier generations misunderstood this and thought that they were obliged to worship a tree during the three years that it was under the influence of the klipah. According to their error it was a logical necessity to make such a tree an object of worship.
4 comments:
Speaking of Tu biShevat falling on Shabbat, I remember how seven years ago you had a post listing a bunch of segulot from Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi for when Tu biShevat falls on Shabbat Shirah. [I specifically remember (among other things) to have 36 (!) salads on the table.] However, just seven months later (at the end of the year 5770, if I recall correctly), you deleted all the contents of your blog and restarted it from scratch. The last time Tu biShevat fell on Shabbat Shirah (four years ago), you didn't repost what you had originally posted three years prior. Is there any way you could repost it for this year?
Yes there was a Great Blog Deletion at the end of 5770. I can't find anything on Google. I think there is a way of finding deleted things, but I don't know how to do it. Sorry about that. I am also really curious to see what it said, maybe someone reading this knows something about it.
"There are things that may not be revealed, for if they were revealed, later generations would make an idol of them. There is knowledge that may not be revealed, for later generations would use the basic knowledge and continually add to it, often irresponsibly. They could then develop concepts leading to cataclysmic discoveries."
I was once told by a Rebbe that each generation degenerates in wisdom, and it is only right before Moshiach comes that the current generation will regain its wisdom. Have you heard this?
Every pre Succot, my neighbors start chopping down branches and even have the Iriya (Barkat) trim the trees with branches hanging over their (succa) areas. And when one calls the Iriya to trim trees, watch out. The poor trees cry and alert nearby trees that they are in danger. It’s awful what they do to these trees. (i do not know if its vengeful by the arab or israeli trimmers??)
PS I sent you some links about blog archives, but you could also search “lost blog files” and maybe find your solution.
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