Dear Congregation Beth Israel members and friends,

The weather outside may still be wintery, but spiritually speaking we’re on the path toward spring! At the very beginning of this month we celebrated Tu BiShvat, the New Year of the Trees. Instituted originally as a kind of “tax day” in ancient Israel, the full moon of this late-winter month is considered the day every tree becomes one year older. In ancient Israel, during the first few years of its life a tree could not be harvested. In year four it could be harvested but the fruits were to be given to God. In year five, the tree became harvest-able for human benefit.

About 1,700 years later, the mystics of Tzfat reinterpreted Tu BiShvat as a mystical journey through the seasons and a ritual of tikkun, “repair,” for all that is broken in our world. As in past years, we celebrated with a Tu BiShvat seder at CBI on February 2. From Tu BiShvat it’s one lunar month (four weeks) until Purim, and after that, it’s one lunar month until Pesach. These three full moons serve as stepping-stones in our journey toward spring, toward liberation, and toward wholeness renewed.

This year we’ll celebrate Purim with two very different programs:

On Sunday, March 1, we’ll delve into a part of the Megillah of Esther that most liberal American Jews don’t ever encounter over Zoom. (Jews who hear the whole megillah chanted in Hebrew hear it every year, but may not necessarily be fluent enough to follow.) In chapter nine, the evil Haman has been vanquished – but the king has already sent out a decree saying that people all over his 127 provinces should murder the Jews. And to the reader’s chagrin (and maybe bafflement), a decree, once promulgated, can’t be un-decreed. Instead, the king offers a new decree stating that the Jews are allowed to kill those who would otherwise kill us. We’ll delve into that chapter and into the wisdom texts of our tradition, seeking to unpack what this story might mean to us. Please register in advance if you plan to join us online.

And on Monday, March 2, we’ll celebrate Purim with hamentaschen of many varieties made by our own Jen Burt, and an impromptu Purim play in which the kids (and maybe parents!) in Jewish Journeys will play a central role. All are welcome, of all ages; costumes are welcome, though not required. Please RSVP by no later than February 23 so we know how many chairs to set up. It always strikes me that the tail-end of winter is a great time for merriment and rejoicing – from Carnival in Rio to Mardi Gras in New Orleans to Purim celebrations in every place that Jews call home. I hope you’ll join the merrymaking and raise a glass in a l’chaim, celebrating that we will have made it through another winter and are eager for the coming spring.

May this month be filled with the spiritual uplift of Purim revelry, and the physical uplift of noticing that every day as we approach the equinox we are blessed with just a little bit more light.

Blessings to all,

— Rabbi Rachel