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Tu B’Shvat is celebrated during the week we read B’Shalah, the Torah Portion with the greatest miracle in Torah. What is the connection?
splitting of the sea
This week, we read B’Shalah. King Pharaoh has a change of heart. He regrets releasing his slaves. He and his troops chase after them with horses and chariots. They mean to capture The Yisroel people and force them back into servitude. This is a very difficult situation. The entire community is trapped; the sea is on one side, and the Pharoah’s military is aggressively approaching them on the other. This is the critical moment.
tHE mIRACLE
Then, Moshe lifts his staff. Miraculously, the sea splits wide open, making a pathway. This is the moment the people knew that The Holy One was present with them. The Yisroel people can walk through the to the other side. When they complete, the sea returns to its normal state, drowning their aggressive adversaries, horses, chariots, and all. (That makes me a little sad, though.)
Masters of Kabbalah reference this Torah portion for the most potent Divine Names, the Name of 72. It is derived from three verses in Torah that preceded the splitting of the sea. It is the Name used to alter patterns of nature. You can find more on this at the end of this article.
It is significant that Tu B’Shvat coincides with this Torah portion.
TU B’SHVAT, the holiday of the growing edge
Jewish practice cannot be separated from Mother Earth’s patterns. There is significance as to the age of a tree. The New Year provides a means of keeping track of a tree’s age.
“When is the New Year of Trees?” It is not during the bountiful summer or the blossoming spring, but in the dead of winter. This is when the tree sap flows outwardly to produce fruit. Trees experience an internal shift, which eventually manifests externally, bearing fruit. May this process inspire each of us to have our own internal shift that will manifest over time in positive ways.
This is magic, Earth magic. This Torah portion, B’Shalah, brings attention to the biggest miracle in Torah. Tu B’Shvat reminds us that Earth magic, though not visible, is always taking place. Miracles happen everyday. The Space time continuum we live in is a miracle. Earth orbits on her axis every 24 hours, Moon orbits Earth every 27.3 days, and Earth orbits Sun in 365.25 days. Tu B’Shvat invites us notice the luscious, abundant, everyday miracles that for elevate life as we know it.
ABOUT THE NAME OF 72
The Name of 72 (triads) relates to changing the patterns of nature. Three verses of Torah that precede the great miracle of the splitting of the sea are its source. Exodus Chap 14 vs 19-21
וַיִּסַּ֞ע מַלְאַ֣ךְ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים הַֽהֹלֵךְ֙ לִפְנֵי֙ מַֽחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ מֵאַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּסַּ֞ע עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וַֽיַּֽעֲמֹ֖ד מֵאַֽחֲרֵיהֶֽם: וַיָּבֹ֞א בֵּ֣ין ׀ מַֽחֲנֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֗יִם וּבֵין֙ מַֽחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיְהִ֤י הֶֽעָנָן֙ וְהַח֔שֶׁךְ וַיָּ֖אֶר אֶת־הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְלֹֽא־קָרַ֥ב זֶ֛ה אֶל־זֶ֖ה כָּל־הַלָּֽיְלָה: וַיֵּ֨ט מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶת־יָדוֹ֘ עַל־הַיָּם֒ וַיּ֣וֹלֶךְ יְהוָֹ֣ה ׀ אֶת־הַ֠יָּ֠ם בְּר֨וּחַ קָדִ֤ים עַזָּה֙ כָּל־הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם לֶחָֽרָבָ֑ה וַיִּבָּֽקְע֖וּ הַמָּֽיִם:
The Name of 72 is drawn from the reading above: The first letter of vs 19, the last letter of vs 20 and the first letter of vs 21 compose the initial triad -והו . The next triad is composed of the second letter of vs 19 the second to last letter of vs 20 and the last letter of vs 21 – ילי.
Forward, reverse, forward
The sequencing holds the pattern of forward, reverse, and forward; a process used to deconstruct patterns. Forward – this is the way matters are unfolding, Reverse shifts the direction of the energy flow, and forward sets it back up again to move forward. This models the miracle of the splitting of the sea. The permutation of the letters (forward reverse forward) models as follows: 1) the natural flow, 2) reversal of the natural process and 3) the returns it to its earlier condition and natural state.
It is an alchemical secret. It is also useful for rubbing soil from an object.
LANGUAGE NOTE
Literally “Mitzrayim” translates as the doubly constricted place. Indeed it was. Egypt in Torah is distinct from Egypt today. For that reason, I “Mitzrayim” rather than Egypt when writing.
