– Q. Dear Rabbi. How come we celebrate in Canada and in most of the U.S. and Europe, Tu Bishvat, the New Year for trees and their fruits, when we are surrounded by frost and often covered by snow. Is it not ridiculous?

A. Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a explained that we celebrate the potential of the trees to start their yearly early development for growing and giving fruits later on already at that early time of the year. Since the underground root changes already begin at that period.

He indicated that in our communities it is the trust in Hashem’s ways that we mainly and mostly celebrate.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a