| The Month of Shvat: Rebirth, Torah, and the Holy Temple
Each Hebrew month conveys its own unique message. The theme of this month of Shevat is
the concept of renewal and rebirth. Who among us would not like a chance to start over again?
Thankfully, that is exactly what this month affords each of us... a Divinely-appointed opportunity
to achieve rejuvenation in our lives. Shvat is a very unique time; the process of rebirth is
inherent in the very essence of this month. During this month, rain waters of the winter months
begin to ascend in the veins of the trees, bringing new life. Our sages teach that this process
reaches its crescendo on the 15th day of the month, when we celebrate the joyous holiday of Tu
B'Shvat (lit., "the fifteenth of Shvat," occurring this year on Wednesday, February 8th). This day, called "The New Year of Trees," conveys an uplifting idea: on this day, a unique wave of
Divine energy flows through all of creation, a forerunner of the restoration, rejuvenation and
rebirth of spring. Deep within the natural world, the vital force of life begins to rise up, within
each tree, within each blade of grass, preparing for renewal. This day exemplifies the promise
of renewal and rebirth within nature, but it also alludes to the potential for renewal within each
person.
The theme of renewal permeates each moment of this entire month. As it is within nature, so too
this special time alludes to the potential for restoration within each person, for the Torah uses the
metaphor "Is the tree of the field a man?" (Deut. 20:19). Just as renewal is within the grasp of the natural world, so too it is within our grasp as well; as the trees around us receive this new spark of Divine energy, people can be affected by it as well.
We are instructed to serve G-d with all our heart, soul, and might, (Deut. 6). That service includes the aspect of one’s striving for personal spiritual growth, as we attempt to draw ever closer to our Creator. However, one of the greatest challenges that we face in our service of G-d, indeed the greatest spiritual danger, is the tendency to become complacent. Sometimes we "fall asleep at the wheel" of life, and become desensitized to the excitement of living each day... things become commonplace, we grow tired and bored... we take things for granted; even, G-d forbid, our relationships – with G-d, and with our loved ones; even with those closest to us. We cease to appreciate each new day as we should, as the Torah reminds us: "New every morning; great is Your faithfulness!" (Lam. 3:23) In order to revive ourselves we must be willing to make an effort... we must constantly re-awaken with new inspiration and energy for serving G-d. And just as this applies to each individual, so too within each nation, an opportunity presents itself for collective repentance and realignment with our priorities as people and as a community within the family of man.
There is a cure to spiritual stagnancy and complacency. There is a secret to renewal and
rebirth, and that is the Torah itself. For another theme runs parallel to Shvat’s theme of
rebirth, connected to the spiritual root of this time of year: Torah study. Of course, the Torah
is called living waters: "Ho, everyone who is thirsty, go to the water... " (Isaiah 55:1). The
month of Shvat is also known as the new year for the study of Torah. The eating of the fruits
of Shvat is symbolic of the sweet fruits of Torah wisdom.
It was on the first day of this Hebrew month of Shvat, that Moses began to recite the book of Deuteronomy to the people of Israel – "on the other side of the Jordan, in the land of Moab,
Moses began to explain this Torah... "(Deut. 1:5)
This process continued for 37 days, until his death on the seventh day of the month of Adar.
Moses rebuked the Children of Israel for their acts of rebellion against G-d during their forty-year
desert sojourn. He taught them once again about many of the commandments that had already
been stated at Mount Sinai and at the Tent of Meeting, as well as new commandments. He also
presented Israel with the blessings and curses, and prepared them to inherit the land of Canaan,
blessing them before his death. Thus, these days of Shvat are a time when those teachings of
"Moshe" are still echoing and reverberating. This month is literally resounding with the words of
Torah shining forth, reaching into every heart, if we would but avail ourselves of the moment and
open our ears.
For the people of Israel, the selfless leadership of Moses is the benchmark of what it means to be a leader, for all subsequent generations. The true Jewish leadership that he exemplified was based
on his unique mixture of unsurpassed humility tempered by unsurpassed greatness; above all,
every fiber of his being vibrated with total compassion for his people. He lived his life for Israel,
and it was this quality of compassion that made him ready to give up his life for Israel: "And
now, if you will forgive their sin – and if not, blot me out of the book which You have written"
(Ex. 32:32).
The rebuilding of the Holy Temple is another major element in this month’s theme of rebirth.
During this month we will also be reading from the portion of the Torah in Exodus that includes
the Song of the Sea (Ch. 15), sung by Israel when G-d parted the Red Sea for them. In the song,
we find the verses that state: "You shall bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Your
inheritance, in the place, O L-rd, which You have made for You to dwell in – in the Sanctuary,
O L-rd, which Your hands have established" (Ex. 15:17-18). These verses emphasize that the
purpose of the Exodus from Egypt was to bring Israel "to the Mountain of G-d’s inheritance"
-Mount Moriah, location of the Holy Temple - in order for them to build that very Sanctuary
which His hands have established. The Holy Temple is the place of renewal for all humanity.
Renewal, restoration, the Holy Temple... these ideals are beckoning to us all during the month of
Shvat, and this is what the holy work of the Temple Institute is all about. May we all be blessed with the renewal of the month of Shvat, with the life-giving waters of Torah study, and may we participate in the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, and the reactivation of the Temple service,
where all mankind together will witness the return of the Divine Presence.
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Temple Talk
