I had a rough week. Unfortunately, I caught the flu, and only now am I starting to feel better. This weekend, I will be traveling to Lithuania to visit the Jewish communities before the holiday of tu bishvat - New Year for Trees. Tu BiShvat for Hebrew Year 5785 begins at sundown on Wednesday, 12 February 2025 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 13 February 2025.

This day marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.
We mark the 15th of Shevat by eating fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. On this day we remember that “man is a tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19), and reflect on the lessons we can derive from our botanical analogue.
According to Biblical law, there is a seven year agricultural cycle, concluding with the Sabbatical year. When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, on years one, two, four and five of this cycle, farmers were required to separate a tenth of their produce and eat it in Jerusalem. This tithe is called Maaser Sheni, the Second Tithe, because it is in addition to the (two percent which must be given to the Kohain, and the) ten percent which is given to the Levite.

On the third and sixth years of the cycle, instead of the owners eating the Maaser Sheni in Jerusalem, they gave this second tithe to the poor, who were permitted to consume it wherever they wished.
[On the Sabbatical year, no tithes are separated. All produce which grows during this year is ownerless and free for anyone to take.]
It was therefore of vital importance to ascertain when the new year started for produce. It was established that a fruit which blossomed before the 15th of Shevat is produce of the previous year. If it blossomed afterwards, it is produce of the "new year." [By comparison, grains, vegetables, and legumes have the same New Year as humans, the 1st of Tishrei.] Why is this so? In the Mediterranean region, the rainy season begins with the festival of Sukkot. It takes approximately four months (from Sukkot, the 15th of Tishrei, until the 15th of Shevat) for the rains of the new year to saturate the soil and trees, and produce fruit.

All fruit which blossom beforehand are a product of the rains of the previous year, and are tithed together with the crops of the previous year.
Although this day is Rosh Hashanah for trees, we attach special significance to this holiday because "Man is [compared to] the tree of the field" (Deuteronomy 20:19). Through cultivating strong roots – faith and commitment to God – we produce many fruits.

The photo above show school children planting trees, which is a custom in Israel during Tu BiShvat

Trump Set to Watch October 7 “Horror Film” Within 24 Hours

This 😍🩵

🎗Agam Berger, just days after her release from captivity, presents her sister with a purple aiguillette following her completion of a military course💙🤍

🚨BREAKING: In the United States, led by Trump, it has been officially decided to withdraw from the UN human rights organization and completely halt all funding for UNRWA.

Israeli Prime Minister's Office:

In light of the numerous requests for meetings from officials in the United States with Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Prime Minister's visit will be extended until Saturday.

- Trump: "I have no guarantees that the ceasefire will last."

- Netanyahu is pushing for the eradication of Hamas at the end of phase 1, but Hamas won’t agree to surrender and disarm.

- Trump is well aware of the fact that Gaza can never be restored as long as Hamas is in power.

The Iconic Jaffa Street in Jerusalem.

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗢 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 - https://buff.ly/3Q6gt5g


PEOPLE OF GAZA TO BE MOVED TO EGYPT AND JORDAN!

If you liked the music in the background of my latest video, here is the link so you can listen to it lauder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh4cpd8IKCY