TuB’Shevat tells the world what kind of Jew you are
I have a dear friend who waits all year for Tu B’Shevat. From Rosh Chodesh, he waits, watching everyone assemble their pekelach, set up their tables for their Tu B’Shevat seders, and prepare the proper kavanos for the holy day. And just as the Tu B’Shevat parade is about to begin, he summons a downpour of Debbie Downer rain all over everyone’s celebrations.
“You know it’s just a day for the purpose of counting orlah, right?”
The music stops, the celebration is halted, and he sits there wryly smiling — a joyous expression that he only rarely feels when he discovers a new reason to say Tachanun.
I’m nearly certain my dear friend was bullied by a carob tree as a child. As the inside of the trees quietly begin to blossom and bloom, this is a day for halachic reductionists to share their inner gloom with the world. If you’re accosted by such a person, don’t bother arguing. Trust me, these types keep the relevant maareh mekomos on them at all times. Let them enjoy another Tachanun and just roll your eyes at their curmudgeonly ways. It’s not your problem they don’t care about what the renewal of trees represents.
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