Rabbi B - The Month of Shevat

Okay, let's just make sure it looks good. Oh, hi there to. We are about to start a brand new month called the month of Shvat. Shvat and of course Oh, hi D'vorah. How are you today? No, D'vorah. That doesn't say Shabbat. It says Shabbat. It doesn't say Shabas. There's no month called Shabas or Shabbat. You see, Shabas is spelled shin bay and saf, but the month of shvat is spelled shin vase and tess. Completely different spelling for a completely different name. Shabas, of course, is the seventh day of the week. But the month of Shabbat, well, that's the fifth month or the 11th month, depending on how you're counting. And shvat is a very wonderful month. So let's wish each other a good keshvat. There are 12 months in the Jewish year. Let's sing them together. The month of tre. The month of Geshvan, the month of Klave, the month of Davis, the month of Schwat, the month of Adar, the month of Nissan, the month of Ear, the month of Son, The month of Tamuz. The month of A and the month of L. E Ramos A and L. The month of Shvat is a very special month. It's the fifth month when you count from the month of Tish and the 11th month when you count from the month of Nissan. And throughout Tanakh, Shvat is known as the 11th month as we'll soon see. Well, Rosheshvat, the very first day is a very special day. That's the day that Moshe Rabenu Moshe began to say the whole Devarin, the fifth book of the Torah, right before the Jewish people entered Erit Israel. That's right. Mosha repeated the Torah and reminded the Jewish people to be strong and keep Hashem's mitzvah. Right. So that's what happened on the first day of Shabbat. many years ago. Moving down to the 10th day of Shvat, that's known as Yudvat. That's the day that the previous laberba passed away. And one year later, the new labereeba, the one we call the Reb became the new Reb of Kabad Labavich. What a special day. The 11th day of Shvat. That's the birthday of the kafetim, a very special rabbi from many years ago who taught that we should have a lot of abas is and never speak lashenhara. Never speak badly about each other. That's right. Well, moving down to the 15th day of that's known as tishvat. And tishvat is the new year for the trees. It's Roshashana for the ilanos for the trees. What a special holiday where we eat special fruits, make lots of braos, especially boret and aayanu on a new fruit. What a wonderful holiday. You know, we're told that tubishvat is the day that the trees start to warm up and their sap starts to flow and they start to get ready for the spring. And I can't wait for the spring either. And moving down to the last thing on our calendar, the 24th day of Shabbat. Well, that's the day recorded in Tanakh that the Nabi Zakaria, the prophet Zakaria, he had a nva, Hashem showed him that the second base Ham Mikdash will be rebuilt. And in Tanakh it mentions that that day the 24th day of the 11th month that's was when Zakaria had that nva that the BA mikdash will be rebuilt and I hope this month of Shvat it will be true that the third BA mikdash will be rebuilt and will have Msiah in the month of Shvat. So it's a very special month and I hope you make each day of the month of Shvat very special to >> Hey Mushka, why did you invite me outside to the garden? Because Tati told me something so interesting that Hashem looks at our world like it's a garden. When it's left alone and ignored, it grows wild and does not look very nice at all. But when someone takes care of it, then it can grow properly and be really beautiful. >> So if the world is a garden, then who are the gardeners? >> We are. When we do mitzvos and learn Torah, we bring light and warmth to the world. And this makes Hashem's world grow properly and become beautiful. So the more good deeds I do and Torah I learn, the more beautiful the garden. >> You got it, Benny. >> And that means I don't need this shovel anymore. >> Okay. D'vorah, are you ready for some yummy breakfast? We're going to have delicious waffles today in honor of Heshvat. But we're missing something, D'Vorah. No, I have a fork. Nope. I have a knife. We're missing my favorite part of having waffles. The syrup. The maple syrup. Could you please go get it for me, D'vorah, from the fridge? Oh, thank you very much. You know, maple syrup is so delicious and really, really makes waffles and pancakes taste even better. You know, maple syrup actually is the syrup, the liquid that comes from a tree. And in the month of Shabbat, well, that's when we learn that the trees start to warm up and start producing their sap that we can turn into delicious syrup. Oh, thank you, D'vorah. You know, I wonder how they make the tree sap into delicious maple syrup. In late winter, when it's still cold outside, the maple syrup maker gently makes a tiny hole in a maple tree. The maple syrup maker puts a little spout so the tree can share its sap. Sap is the sweet, watery liquid that flows inside plants and trees. Don't worry, the tree stays healthy and happy. Drip, drip, drip. The sap flows out and goes into buckets. The maple syrup maker collects the sap every day. The sap looks like water, but it has a little bit of maple sugar inside. Now comes the steamy part. The maple syrup maker heats the sap and boils it. The water turns into steam and floats away, leaving behind the sugar. As the sap boils and boils, it gets darker, thicker, and smells so sweet. The maple syrup maker watches as the watery sap turns into syrup. Next, the maple syrup maker pours the hot syrup through a filter to catch tiny bits and crystals. This makes the syrup smooth and shiny. Next, the maple syrup maker pours the syrup into bottles. All that's left to do is make a braha and eat some delicious maple syrup. Wow. All that effort is totally worth it. All right, D'Vorah, pour on some yummy syrup on the waffles and let's begin our yummy breakfast. Fish toast. Shalom. It's me, the Torah. Happy month of Shvat. That's the month that Mosha Rabenu began to review the Torah in humish devarim. But there is something very special about how Moshe did that. He did not want to embarrass the Jewish people by reminding them of any mistakes they made in the past. So he only hinted to those mistakes. For example, Moshe just said bameidbar in the desert to hint at the time the Jewish people complained to Hashem in the desert. And instead of saying that they worshiped a golden calf, Moshe just said dahav that gold thing. He was very careful not to embarrass them. We should learn from Mosha and be very careful how we speak to each other. And if we do need to remind someone that they made a mistake, maybe use a hint or code so they won't be embarrassed as well. >> You know, I always found it funny that Hashem put Tishvat in the winter time when in North America and the colder countries, the trees are still sleeping and are not starting to grow and make fruits. But I think the lesson is that Tubishbat reminds us that the trees are getting ready for the springtime which teaches us a very valuable lesson too. We should always prepare ahead and always be ready for a future time. Well, that's the theme of today's story called Honey and the Carob Tree. Let's read inside together. Honey was walking one sunny day when he saw an old man digging away. The old man looked happy as can be. And in the ground he planted a small carob tree. Honey said, "Sir, I have to ask why. That tree won't grow tall till after you die. It takes 70 years for carobs to grow." The old man smiled and said, "Yes, I know. Other people planted trees for me. I plant this for the ones I won't see. I may not get to taste the fruit so sweet, but I'm giving the future children something to eat." Honey stretched out and pulled down his cap and took a 7-year nap. When he awoke, oh, what did he see? A young man picking fruit from a carob tree. Connie asked the man, "Who planted this tree?" "My grandpa," he said. "It was planted for me, and I will go and plant one of my own for my future children just like I was shown." When we help each other now and then, there's benefit. We just can't tell when for our future friends and family. A lesson learned from a carob tree. Well, it's true. All those trees that you see were planted well before your time and before my time, too. But we still enjoy the fruits from them. I guess the people who planted them long ago were thinking of us. And we can do the same thing today. When we do something nice or plant a tree or do a mitzvah, it doesn't just help ourselves. Sometimes we don't even get to benefit from it, but it can help someone else. Maybe even someone many years from now, like 70 years. Man, oh man, that was a long sleep, honey took. I don't think I've ever taken asleep for 70 years. What a great story. Oh, I think I hear Cougle the robot. Let's go see what he's up to today. Hi, Cougle. How are you today? >> Baruk Hashem. Rabbi B. Sha tova. >> Sha tova. Uh-oh. I think Kugal has a virus again. He must be broken. Today is not Roshashana. >> No, Rabbi B. I'm not broken. This month does have a Roshashana in it. >> There is a Roshashana in the month of Shvat. >> Yeah. To be Shvat. That's the roshash shana for the trees. >> Of course, Tubishvat is known as the Roshashana for the trees. I guess that means there must be two Roshashanas. >> Actually, Rabbi B, there are four roashanas according to the Mishna. The first of Nissan, that's the Roshashana for kings. It is also the Roshashana for the holidays because Pesak is in Nissan and Pesak is the first holiday. Next there is the first of El. That's the Roshashana for my behemoth for the new choice of which animal would be donated and brought to the Kohanim in Yerushim. the first of tre. Well, that's the rosh shana we all know. It's the head of the new Jewish year. And lastly, we have the first of shabbat. That's the roshash shana for the trees according to b shamai. B hill thinks the roshash shana for the trees is on the 15th of known as tobat. And that's the opinion we follow today. So when I said shaat tova to you Rabbi B, I was referring to the new year for the trees to be. >> Of course, there are four Russas. So I guess you're right, Kougle. This month in the month of Shvat, Tishvat is the new year for the trees. So shout out to Kougle. Shatva to you too, Rabbi D. >> Well, once again, wishing you a to a very happy roh and month of Shvat. May this month warm us up to Torah and mitzvah. And may we do so many things to get ready for a beautiful spring, for a beautiful remainder of the year. And of course, we hope we have Msiach now. Have a good keshvat. Bye. Welcome to rabb.org, your one-stop shop for everything Rabbi B. On my site, you can find out more about me. Watch the latest video or check out past episodes. Check out all of Rabbi Bee's books, albums, upcoming concerts, and events. I even have activities and coloring pages, too. Easily contact me with a question, comment, or just to say hi. And you can do all that with the comfort and safety of one website, rabb.org. Let's make being Jewish fun and exciting. Rabbi B loves hearing from fans. Please send any fan mail, drawings, or questions to [email protected]. Do to do toito toe to do to do to do to do to do to to