The screen followed the black stretched Limo with the American flag proudly resign on the hood of the car carefully from the white house along the streets of washington straight through the vintage gates of the great Arlington cemetery.
It has become American tradition over the years that before a President and Vice President are sworn in they lay a wreath at the 'Tomb Of The Unknowns'. This sounded rather strange to me, the most important man in the world at this moment is approaching one of the most momentous days in his career and he goes to lay a wreath, not at the grave of previous presidents or great american politicians but of those who fought for the country hundreds of years ago...without names or faces.
A seventh grader asked me a couple days ago what the whole deal with Tu b'shvat is, her exact words were "why do trees even need a new year?" I found myself exploring lessons of the past dating back to elementary school. It was after the glorified feeling of receiving a 'thank you call' from a parent that I fully understood this question. Having a day to stop and think about how trees and wildlife is an incredible concept, but more importantly it is what we take away from the having to stop and think.
Tress are the ultimate source of life. They provide the very oxygen that sustains us, supply us with food and clothes shade us and provide comforting protection.
An extremely important concept in Judaism is "Hakaras HaTov" [The recognition of a debt of gratitude].
(Bereshis 32:4-36:43) Jacob/ Yaakov Avinu returned get his 'small jugs'. We know that Yaakov was a very wealthy man, why on earth would he return to collect a few dollar store quality jugs?
(Shemos 7:19), HaShem tells Moshe to instruct Aharon to take his stick and stretch it over the Nile, which would then turn to blood. Rashi explains that Aharon had to do this instead of Moshe as the Nile saved Moshe many years beforehand, when he was a little child.
Being Makir Tov is the ultimate goal. Half the time we don't even realize what we have, why would we go back to get a few cheap jugs we don't need, or even think that we should respect the nile that god used to saved us. Yakov actually risked his life to return for a couple jugs that have served him well in the past. Our Rabbis tell us that someone who cherishes and respects things that they are given is a righteous person, a tzadik. The torah is full of examples of Great men attaining levels of being Makir tov (grateful men/women) and it is little things like having gratefulness that have made them into the people they were.
A man who comes to my house for Shabbos dinner every week would sometimes get food stains on his clothing, when he would realized his clothes were discoloured he would mutter under his breath each time "I don't deserve good things." When we view ourselves as entitled and deserving of things we receive in life, we can never feel grateful because we feel like it is owed to us.
Some of the greatest men in history Yakov, Moshe and Obama each take a minute to stop and think and thank before they proceed to the milestones in their life and career. Before America moves on with the next 4 years there is a required moment of homage paid to those in the past "the unknowns" who fought so the president could stand there on that very day. As great people we are supposed to look at the impact trees and wildlife have on our lives and learn to be grateful. Tu b'shvat is that day that we can stop, think, thank and attain greatness.
Shout out to Alyssa Karmia, I have such Hakaras Hatov to have someone like her in my life.
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