The Word On The Street

"The WORD on the street" is a way for those living in the United States to be connected with those living in the Land. The day's events, politics, pop-culture, family life, maybe even what’s on the dinner menu—all of this and more is likely to be found here. Visit regularly to hear the WORD on the street from our MAs and friends in Israel.

Tu B'Shevat Has Come and Gone in Israel

12 February, 2010

Tu B'Shevat has come and gone in Israel. It is a festival between Chanuka and Purim that is called the Festival of Trees. Observant Jews give thanksgiving for fruit bearing trees by gathering friends and fruits and celebrating together. Israeli children go off to school and kindergarten armed with dried fruits for their snacks, and come home with something to plant in their garden. Planting trees is the national celebration at Tu B'Shevat, and this year Israel was one million trees richer when the festival was over.

Restoring the land by tree planting has been a fervor since the Jew returned to his land. The Ottoman empire, during its four century rule, denuded the Land of trees, using wood to fuel their steam trains. Mark Twain, passing through the land in the late 1890s, said he had never seen a more desolate land. To the Israeli, every planted tree is a celebration, a stake in the ground, a flag flying.

Purim is coming in two weeks' time and children are already claiming what they intend to “be” on that dress-up day, while parents are already scouting around for the where withal for these envisioned creations.

Yet beneath the light hearted fun of this festival lurks the knowledge that there is still an enemy like Haman the Agagite calling for the annihilation of Israel. Perhaps it is no coincidence that our Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is almost desperately calling the world's attention to Iran's dictator, as the season of Purim approaches. “Who knows whether [he] has come to [leadership] for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

Hebrew Christian Fellowship