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Scroll down to learn more Torah about Tu B’Shvat and our relationship with nature!
Tu B'shvat Workshop: Soap Making
Do we strive for dominion or responsibility over Creation?
On Tu B’Shvat, we celebrate our relationship with the earth- with that, comes responsibility - let’s explore what type of responsibility comes with that gift.
When reading these passages, explore potential conflicts of values - in the texts, and in your life. How do you navigate those tension?
בראשית א׳:י׳-י״ב
וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹקים לַיַּבָּשָׁה אֶרֶץ וּלְמִקְוֵה הַמַּיִם קָרָא יַמִּים וַיַּרְא אֱלֹקים כִּי־טוֹב׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקים תַּדְשֵׁא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא עֵשֶׂב מַזְרִיעַ זֶרַע עֵץ פְּרִי עֹשֶׂה פְּרִי לְמִינוֹ אֲשֶׁר זַרְעוֹ־בוֹ עַל־הָאָרֶץ וַיְהִי־כֵן׃
Genesis 1:1-12
G-d called the dry land Earth, and the gathering of waters He called Seas. And G-d saw that this was good. (11) And G-d said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing plants, fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so.
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What’s miraculous about plants growing? Have you seen a seed sprout? If G-d makes seeds sprout, what’s our job when planting?
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(טו) וַיִּקַּח ה' אֱלֹקים אֶת־הָאָדָם וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן־עֵדֶן לְעׇבְדָהּ וּלְשׇׁמְרָהּ׃
The L-rd G-d took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it.
כח) וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם אֱלֹקים וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם אֱלֹקים פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וּמִלְאוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁהָ…
(28) G-d blessed them and G-d said to them, “Be fertile and increase, fill the earth and master it…
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The two psukim in Bereisheet seem to be in conflict with one another. Is Hashem telling us that we have the responsibility to work, guard or master the earth? What do these different responsibilities mean to you?
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א) אַרְבָּעָה רָאשֵׁי שָׁנִים הֵם. בְּאֶחָד בְּנִיסָן רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לַמְּלָכִים וְלָרְגָלִים. בְּאֶחָד בֶּאֱלוּל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לְמַעְשַׂר בְּהֵמָה. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמְרִים, בְּאֶחָד בְּתִשְׁרֵי. בְּאֶחָד בְּתִשְׁרֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לַשָּׁנִים וְלַשְּׁמִטִּין וְלַיּוֹבְלוֹת, לַנְּטִיעָה וְלַיְרָקוֹת. בְּאֶחָד בִּשְׁבָט, רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לָאִילָן, כְּדִבְרֵי בֵית שַׁמַּאי. בֵּית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים, בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בּוֹ
(1) The four new years are: On the first of Nisan, the new year for the kings and for the festivals; On the first of Elul, the new year for the tithing of animals; Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Shimon say, on the first of Tishrei. On the first of Tishrei, the new year for years, for the Sabbatical years and for the Jubilee years and for the planting and for the vegetables. On the first of Shevat, the new year for the trees according to the words of the House of Shammai; The House of Hillel says, on the fifteenth thereof.
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On Rosh Hashana, we think a lot about Teshuva and preparing for a wonderful year. How can treat Tu B’Shvat as “Rosh Hashana” for our relationship to the earth? What mitzvot can we focus on to improve the earth?
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בשעה שברא הקדוש ברוך הוא את אדם הראשון, נטלו והחזירו על כל אילני גן עדן, ואמר לו: ראה מעשי כמה נאים ומשובחין הן, וכל מה שבראתי, בשבילך בראתי, תן דעתך שלא תקלקל ותחריב את עולמי, שאם קלקלת אין מי שיתקן אחריך.
At the time that the Holy One created the first man, He introduced him to every tree in the Garden of Eden, and said to him, ‘See how wonderful and pleasant these trees are. And all of this I have created for you; therefore take great care that you do not damage and destroy My world, for if you do there is no one else to put right what you have destroyed.’
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Concluding Questions: How will caring for land inspire you to take care of other spaces? What are some places that you enjoy visiting that you can take care of? What can we do as a community to care for the earth?
The soap, flowers, herbs, and essential oils allow us to make these beautiful and helpful soaps. When we learn more about plants, we can learn how we can benefit from plants. Lets be sure to appreciate the plants this Tu B’shvat!
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