Breathe Deep, It’s Spring!

Yesterday I was out for pizza, and I heard a dad and his kid talking about Groundhog Day. The kid was like, "But what if he sees his shadow and then spring doesn't ever come???"

It was cute, but I didn't give it much thought. I had totally forgotten today was Groundhog Day.

Then this morning I sat down to post about Tu B'Shevat, which is tomorrow, and since I've already rambled on the subject, and Tamar has posted this week about all things Green, I just wanted to say something simple about it.

I wanted to give you one moment of celebration. Because even if you don't eat the required amount of fruit or plant a tree or go hiking, it's still a holiday. So I'd like to give you something to savor. I found this:

For the autumn has passed and the rain is over and gone. The blossoms are seen in the country, the season of the songbird arrived and the sound of the turtle-dove is heard in our land. The fig has ripened its fruit, the vine's flowers have given their scent". (Song of Songs, 2, 11-13)

Take a second with it. Read it carefully. Maybe twice. It's poetry. Soloman wrote it to be savored.

We can make today into a holiday about Israel, or environmentalism, or mysticism, but at its base, it's still about spring. And however observant you are or aren't, however Jewish you feel, however often you farm your land, I'm guessing you love spring.

I'm guessing that when you walk outside for the first time, and smell damp earth, or see a burst of pink on a tree, or notice that the grass is suddenly greener, you get excited. You think about parks and sandals and sitting outside with a nice wheat beer on a warm day.

Because no matter how far we get from an agricultural world, spring is still something we all need. It staves off depression. The girls get a little naked. There's BBQ.

According to the Jewish calendar, and maybe even a groundhog near you… it's spring! (even if it's still chilly). It's spring! Read these lines again, feel tingly, and then maybe celebrate with a lemonade.