Kesher Talk

Just FYI. Tomorrow is my birthday. If you've been reading KT for awhile you know which one.

It's also Tu B'shvat, the New Year of the Trees. And Shabbat Shira, with the longest haftarah in the chumash. I've chanted that haftarah twice, but I'm taking a break this year, since I'm practicing leading musaf with a repetition of the Amidah the very next week, I'm planning to lead shacharit again the week after that, and I'm also learning a long chapter of the Purim megillah.

UPDATE: More about Tu B'shvat here and here and here.

What's fun about TBS is that since its ritual is not only post-Torah, but most of it is post-Talmud, people can create ritual for it without running afoul of halacha or even minhag. Also whatever ritual has become commonplace is based on the Lurianic kabbalists of Sfat, so it's truly a kabbalistic holiday. Tu B'shvat: Crunchy-granola plus kabbala. What a frightening combination.

posted by Judith @ 2/06/2004 03:13:00 PM