Centuries ago, our people determined that we would have not one, but four "New Years" each year. No, that did not mean that they thought we ought to celebrate the High Holidays four times over each year…Here's what they had in mind…The Mishnah (Rosh HaShanna 1:1) records that there are fours "New Years" each year.The first New Year, was to be in the beginning of the Jewish month of Nissan.That was the month in which the Exodus from Egypt occurred, and it was in that month that we became an independent people.It followed that the New Year in Nissan was to mark the beginning of what was considered a new year for the reign of kings of Israel, even if the actual coronation of the king took place in another month of the year.It was also considered the beginning of a new year for our annual pilgrim festivals.

The second New Year occurred in the beginning of the month of Elul, although some said it was actually on the first day of the month of Tishrei.That New Year was to mark the end of one year, and the beginning of the next year, for purposes of calculating the tithe of the cattle.All the animals that were born before that New Year were tithed with the previous year's animals.All animals born on that New Year or thereafter were tithed with the animals born in the new year.

In the month of Tishrei, a third New Year marked the count of the Sabbatical years, and for the jubilee year, for planting of trees, and for the tithe of the vegetables.This New Year has become more popularly associated with what we now know as the observance of "Rosh HaShannah".

In the month of Shevat, the fourth New Year was the New Year of the blossoming of Trees.The School of Shammai taught that it was on the first of Shevat, while the School of Hillel taught that it was on the fifteenth of Shevat, and, in time, we have come to accept that date, the fifteenth of Shevat, Tu' B'Shevat, as our fourth New Year, the celebration of Trees.The kabbalists built on the imagery of the tree of life, and associated the sefirotic tree, describing various aspects of our sense of God's Presence in the world, with the celebration of Tu' B'Shevat.And, in recent years, Tu B'Shevat has become increasingly connected with an awakening of ecological awareness.

I am always amazed at the depth of Jewish tradition.As we approach the month of Shevat, I find myself thinking about the wonderful space our tradition gives us to breathe meaning into our lives – to imbue our reality, and our world, as we see it in each generation, with a sense of connection to God, to our ancestors, and to relevance and meaning for us today.

How wise of our Sages to suggest to us through their teachings that our lives are in fact made up of various cycles.We have not one new beginning, but four new beginnings, each year.We have not one level of existence throughout the year, but multi-layered lives with an ongoing rhythm that weaves together and accompanies the various strands of our existence.

On one level, our individual lives are affected by historical and national events, such as the Exodus, or the inevitable changes in government.On another level, our lives are intricately tied to the other forms of life around us – to the birth and life cycle of animals, to the cycles of nature in the world of vegetation, in the world of fruit, and even in the very wonder of the renewal of blossoms in the Spring time.Each of these elements rises up and touches us profoundly during the cycle of each individual year.And each year, we experience the crests of these waves of the various spheres of influence in our lives, a little bit differently, as we take time to absorb the meaning of the wave in response to the changing nature of the world we inhabit.

Wishing you a wonderful winter and looking forward to the promise of blossoms as we move toward Tu'B'Shevat and a Happy New Year to all!

Rabbi Gilah Dror