From Punxsutawney to Tu B’Shvat

February is an odd month on the calendar. While there aren’t any major Jewish holidays, the calendar is filled with mostly humorous attempts by humanity to distract us from the fact that February still feels like the dead of winter. 

Groundhog Day is the quintessential “weather-related” holiday. The entire event focuses on whether a rotund rodent, known as Punxsutawney Phil, is frightened enough by his own shadow to remain burrowed for another six weeks, indicating more hibernation and more winter for everyone. Folks make the yearly pilgrimage from all over the world to rural Pennsylvania in the middle of the freezing night to see if they can catch a glimpse of the egoistical woodchuck. How selfish could any animal be to force more winter on all of North America just because they didn’t want to leave the comfort of their own home? Who doesn’t feel like sleeping the winter away?? Do better Phil. 

And then there’s President’s Day…Well, let’s just say that it’s becoming more and more difficult to find myself excited for this day as well, even if it’s really a celebration of President Washington’s birthday. Perhaps we should combine President’s Day with Groundhog Day? If that lazy woodchuck was incentivized with a paid national holiday, maybe he’d be more likely to venture out. Either way, when I think of the history of the United States Presidency, all I am left with is feeling like we’re currently living through the movie Groundhog Day; rather appropriate. 

Valentine’s Day, while a noteworthy reminder to take time and show appreciation to the lovers in our life, feels more like a commercial holiday these days, designed to sell Whitman’s chocolates and gas station flowers. Besides the Jewish version, Tu B’Av, falls in August, and summer romance is always preferred; it’s easier to date and to be social when the weather is nice, as long walks along the beach and picnic lunches are tough in snow drifts. 

Tu B’Shvat, the only Jewish holiday in February, is a minor but important holiday that actually hits a sweet spot. While the holiday honors the new year of trees in Israel, where plants are just beginning to sprout, those of us in North America laugh because we still have 5 feet of snow in our backyard. However, I have always found Tu B’Shvat to be inspirational as it allows us to dream of warmer months, flowers, fruits, and sunshine, while forcing us to accept and even embrace our current, wintry fate. I love summers on Lake Champlain but man can’t live on summer alone. Time is precious, and we only have so much of it; blizzards or heat waves, we all must learn to live in the moment, within winter’s calm and majestic beauty, especially surrounded by the Adirondacks. This year Temple Beth Israel will celebrate Tu B’Shvat with a community brunch seder on Sunday, February 1^st, starting at 10am.

The Super Bowl? What a glorious day in American sports; my only problem is the depressing void that is created once the NFL playoffs come to an end. Thank goodness for Temple Beth Israel’s annual Souper Shabbat; the highlight of the month! This year’s Souper Shabbat will take place on Friday, February 6^th, starting at 5:30pm. We encourage folks to explore their culinary depths by sharing their favorite soups. If you’re interested in attending Souper Shabbat or the Tu B’Shvat community brunch seder, please RSVP to the office. 

Well folks, maybe there is more to celebrate this month than I originally anticipated? Here’s to an early spring in February or perhaps a late winter, where grapes turn into sweet flowing wine somewhere in Israel, when lovers share a candlelight dinner, your favorite football team continues their successful playoff push, and maybe just maybe the president will see his shadow.