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February begins with the holiday of Tu B’Shevat, the “New Year for Trees,” on February 2nd. Then, on the 17th, with Rosh Chodesh, we roll into the Hebrew month of Adar, marked by Purim. Two holidays in one month gives us much to reflect on.
It's been a cold & snowy winter thus far, but Tu B’Shevat, symbolizing nature’s awakening and spiritual renewal after winter’s dormancy, invites us to look ahead to Spring with gratitude. This leads us into Adar and the celebration of Purim—a month when our joy increases, knowing that ultimately, good defeats the evil Haman and light overcomes darkness.
Tu B’Shevat’s tradition of eating fruits & nuts, especially the 7-Species of Israel, connects us to the land to which we are rooted, while Purim inspires us to fight back with hidden spiritual assurance of Hashem’s protection for Israel and the Jewish people.
The world is moving rapidly. But to where? The answer is: toward the world we plant and fight for, and one that Hashem delivers.
The Jewish Federation of Dutchess County is an active participant in this world, locally speaking. All who engage with us through volunteer efforts, donations, and attendance help us make a positive difference—addressing real issues, strengthening the community, and improving people’s lives. How so? Read about it in this newspaper and our weekly JFED emails.
Reading is not enough though. It takes "doing" to achieve a harvest. It takes fighting to be victorious against the dark, evil forces that plot to destroy us.
I’m confident you’ve heard the phrase, “It is always darkest just before the dawn.” The first recorded use of it was in 1650 in a book by English historian and clergyman, Thomas Fuller called "A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine." Pisgah (פִּסְגָּה) means "height," "peak," or "summit." Mount Pisgah is where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death (Deuteronomy 34:1–4) and where King Balak took the prophet Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 23:14).
In 1650, when Fuller wrote his book, the rebirth of the "Promised Land" was but a dream. In 1867, Mark Twain described Palestine in his book "Innocents Abroad" as “a hopeless, dreary, heart-broken land.”
The dawn of Israel followed the darkest time, the Holocaust. On October 7th, 2023, Israel began another dark time as Hamas terrorists committed unimaginable atrocities and took ~251 people into captivity. Iran and its proxies proceeded to fire nearly 30,000 rockets, mortars, and missiles at Israel. It was one of the darkest times in Jewish history.
Thomas Fuller, the clergyman mentioned earlier, lamented the suffering of Jewish communities. He asked , “What good heart can, without grief, recount the injuries offered to those who once were the only people of God?” Fuller argued that the oppression of Jews was not only morally wrong but also politically unwise.
History is full of lessons about what happens to civilizations that bless or curse the Jewish people. We are living witnesses to history. There is a new generation of modern survivors.
We still have our enemies and we always will. But we also have allies like Thomas Fuller. The Jewish Federation seeks to build relationships with supporters. We strive to partner with those who share our love for Israel and want to build a better community here in Dutchess county.
Let Tu B’Shevat and Purim be a reminder to us all that hope springs eternal. May a brighter dawn be ahead for us all.
