Weekly Story: The Barren Trees

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

I participated in an enjoyable farbrengen on the 15th of Shevat, and I thought to share part of that experience with you. 

As always, your feedback and comments are appreciated.

The Rebbe notes that the celebration of the 15th of Shevat comes shortly after the 10th of Shevat, and therefore it also serves as the culmination of the resolutions of Yud Shevat. So the question is, in what way are they similar?

Rabbi Farkash of Argentina explained that once when he was farbrenging in a Chassidishe yeshiva, the students asked him to explain what the message of Yud Shevat is for them who have their own Rebbe?

He explained that the Maamar of Yud Shevat is Basi L’Gani. The midrash explains that Gani does not merely mean My garden, but it means the garden where the King goes to; it is a place that He enjoys being in. 

In other words, it is a basic question on how to view the world and everything that is in it. He continued by way of example, “Next door to my house a disco club opened up and every night is “Simchas Torah”. The music is blasting, people are dancing and drinking. In the morning when goes to the Yeshiva, he has to make sure not to step on people who are out cold and not to step in their vomit which gives off a terrible stench. A person can think this is a jungle.”

But Basi L’Gani tells us that is not the proper perspective. You think it is a jungle because you are not looking behind or further than your eyes see. If you will contemplate properly, you will see that Hashem sent you to that “jungle” in order to refine it and elevate it into holiness.

This is what the Maamar is saying when the Frierdiker Rebbe explained that the Mishkan was built out of cedar wood. Those boards are called a keresh. If you take the three letters of Kuf, shin and reish it spells out the word Shekar – false/a lie. Yet the mission of the Jewish people is to channel and turn falsehood into becoming the mishkan-tabernacle, the place where Hashem’s spirit rests.

This is also the message of the 15th of Shevat.

On the 15th of Shevat, the sap fills up the trees. Yet we don’t celebrate it by doing something with the trees, but by eating fruit from the tree.

However, a question arises. On the 15th of Shevat there are no fruit on the tree. The fruit begin growing later, each fruit in its own season. So why do we eat fruit, when they are not visible on the tree?

However, if you only see a barren tree, you are not looking at the potential of what this tree can produce. By eating fruit, you are making a statement; I know that right now it looks empty, but I am looking and probing deeper. I am visioning its potential greatness.

This is a tremendous lesson for every parent and educator. When your child or student is not living up to your expectations, it is simple to become frustrated. However, if you continue to cultivate and invest in the child, you will see and enjoy the fruit of your loving labor. Their potential is great.

May we all see the potential greatness of our children/students and continue to shower them with love. Without question we will reap the pleasure of seeing their tremendous accomplishments, which will make all the sweat and toil well worth it.

This weeks post is L’zechus my granddaughter, Shterna Sarah bas Chana on the occasion of her Bas Mtzvah. May her parents and all of us continue having tremendous Chassidishe Nachas from her, as she develops and grows into being a true bas Chabad. 

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their Chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com