Planting from the Remains

This year Tu B'Shevat 2014 begins in the evening of Wednesday, January 15
and ends in the evening of Thursday, January 16

by Larry Domnitch for jewishmag.com

It is common knowledge that the holiday of Tu BiShvat is associated with the planting of trees in Israel. Throughout the centuries, trees have been planted in Israel on Tu BiShvat as a celebration of the special qualities of the land, as well as its connection to the Jewish people. Prior to the scorching of the land by Roman legions following the Judean revolts over 1,800 years ago, Israel was adorned with lush forests and bountiful produce.

In the latter half of the nineteenth century, when the Ottoman Turks ruled the land, the first waves of Zionist immigrants began to arrive with the goal of developing the land and restoring some of its former splendor. When Tu BiShvat arrived, they would assemble to mark the day with tree planting ceremonies. Clusters of young saplings were soon transformed into forests. Each forest that was planted brought the dream of a Jewish state a little closer -- a dream that seemed distant while the land was under the harsh rule of the anti-Zionist Turks. Just as every forest was precious, so too was each tree. The story of one particular tree symbolized the plight of Zionism in its earliest days and proved that adversity might be an obstacle, but not a deterrent. No impediments would prevent the development of the land of Israel.

While visiting Israel in 1898, Theodore Herzl sought an audience with the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was also in the Holy Land. After visiting the coastal settlements of Mikve Yisrael and Rishon LeTzion, Herzl traveled toward Jerusalem. As he passed through the Judean hills, he noticed its splendor as well as its barrenness due to neglect over the centuries. However, he noticed an island of green amidst the desolation. It was a small Jewish settlement, the only one in the area. The settlement, named Motza, possessed a population of 200 and was located a few miles west of Jerusalem. Its abundance of Olive, Date and Apricot Trees along with clusters of grapevines, gave it its fertile appearance.

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