It's Not Just a Song

Remember this one from your Hebrew School days?

Ha'shkediyah porachat (the almond tree is blossoming)

v'shemesh paz zorachat (and a golden sun is shining)

tziporim merosh kol gag (birds atop of every roof)

mevasrot et bo ha'chag (announce the arrival of the holiday)

Tu b'Shvat hee'gee'ah (Tu b'Shvat has arrived!)

Chag la'ilanot (the holiday of the trees)

Well, in this part of the world, it's not just a song. It's a beautiful, meaningful, joyful day of celebration and connection to the Creator of the fruit of the Land. The sights around town are right on schedule. So let's sing it again - this time accompanied by the photos I've taken in the past two days. Ready? Hit it!

Ha'shkeydiah porachat

v'shemesh paz zorachat

tziporim merosh kol gag
mevasrot et bo ha'chag

Tu b'Shvat hee'gee'ah chag la'ilanot!
(Photo credit for this one: E. Resnick)

Click HERE for one of many musical versions!

HAPPY TU B'SHVAT 

(or a little bit after)

"It is Good to Thank Hashem"

dark clouds rolling in
strong winds picking up
harbingers of heavy rains to come

yet I sit at the window and smile

because this will be no ordinary deluge

these are gishmei bracha, blessed rains

and I am Home to see them fall

to watch the big drops 
and know that the Kinneret is filling up

and that with G-d's help

there will be ample water for the spring crops

even the date palms

– sentinels on the streets of my beloved Har Nof –
are dripping – with fruit

announcing that Tu b’Shevat is almost here

that the sap will soon be rising

reminding us that we, too

have some growing to do

Thank You, Hashem

 for the rain, for the fruit, for the reminder.

"It is Good to Thank Hashem" - Book of Psalms (92:2)

Thank You for Your kind, compassionate, loving Hand

in every drop and drip of daily life.

It's so much more clear here.

Soothing. Comforting. Reassuring. Empowering.
There's no Place like Home.