This coming Thursday is Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat, the beginning of the Hebrew lunar month. This week, we’ll explore the history behind the month and the questions it poses for the modern Jew.
The month of Sh’vat is perhaps best known for the celebration of Tu b’Sh’vat (ט”ו בשבט), the Jewish New Year for trees, which falls upon the fifteenth of Sh’vat. The first mention of this New Year occurs in the Mishnah, a compilation of first and second Century rabbinic teachings about normative Jewish life in antiquity.
The Mishnah describes four new years, including the New Year for trees, celebrated on the 15th of Sh’vat, in accordance with the teachings of Hilliel. However, the Mishnah adds that the school of Shammai celebrated the New Year for trees on the first of Sh’vat. This disagreement caused some consternation for the early rabbis, who typically observed the teachings of Hillel but were allowed to follow the teachings of Shammai, should they wish to do so.
The Talmud recalls Rabbi Akiva tithing twice for an etrog picked between the first and fifteenth of Sh’vat, in order to respect the teachings of both schools. Such a choice creates a conundrum for the rabbis, who considerately recognize that no one should be expected to tithe twice simply because two rabbis couldn’t agree on a date for the New Year of the trees. Therefore, the sages ultimately suggest that one must choose which school to follow in matters of halakhah. One may not choose both.
Though we live in an age in which we encourage a multiplicity of interpretations of Jewish tradition and ritual, as our sages discovered, there are times when one interpretation of Jewish life obviates another. Recognizing when these instances occur and determining how best to navigate these choices is an essential part of living as a modern Jew.
– Rabbi Josh Knobel