Some of what we touched on in Kern Kehila/Tehachapi Jewish monthly Torah class. Any additions?

Etymology of tree.
See Isaac Mozeson's 'The Word, and "Origin of Speech'.
Arbor - from Aravo(t/s) willow branch taken w/ Lulav
Tree -from Tyre from arbor with b to t switch? or Tirza in Isaiah.
Fruit -from Pri fruit, fertility, apricot, perach/flower also from Pri
Forest - from Etz wood or tree in edonic hebrew

As or this compilation we are in the month of Shevat the the month that holds the new year for trees it is the 11th month counting the spring month of Nissan as number one.
We hold by the 15th (T'U = Tet Vav = 9 +6 =15) not the first of this month as Beis Shami holds.
The month begins with the new moon. The moon was created along with sun and stars on day 4 of the week. Vegetation from day 3 of creation.

Gan Eden, watered by the Creator, had every good edible type tree by day 6.
Elsewhere except underwater rivers/ocean vegetation did not breach till Adam prayed for rain not much later.
Near end of day six 70 date palms prepared so ready for us at Elam 2448 years later soon after Exodus. See article below on min. 2,000 documented longevity of this variety of tree seed.
4 views on Tree of Knowledge type - Fig, Grape, Esrog, Wheat (pre change in atmosphere/enviroment)
Fig leaf used to cover up by Adam
Type of tree used for ark of Noach.
Trees snapped, uprooted by Mabul.
Avraham under tree day 3 after Bris.
Jacob had sons take fruits to Egypt during famine.
The burning bush.
Aron's staff to Tanin = Nachash
Trees broken by Hail, 7th of M'akos (smack, massacre, decimate)
Regeneration eaten by locusts, M'akah number 8.
Hyssop branch dipped in blood of Pascal lamb then on door posts.
Aaron's staff with almond blossoms.
Type of tree Moses sweetened the bitter water with. Arovos?
Land of Israel connection to trees -flowing with milk and honey (date or fig Devash)
7 Species Israel renowned for. Fig, Date, Grape, Pomegranate, Olive, + wheat and barley
Misuse of fruit by 10 Meraglim, lacking appreciation of Creator and self.
King Hiram? of Tyre (sounds like tree) used a lot of wood for Beit Hamikdash.
Nebuchadnezzar's dream interpreted by Daniel.
Haman the wicked hung on beam scavenged from Noah's Ark.
Carob tree sustained, was it R' Shimon Bar Yochai?
Fig tree sustained R' ___ by Bar Kocba
Analogies of righteous man in Torah - Tzadik K'Tamar Yiprach, K'Erez Blevanon Yisgeh, Shittulim...
Analogy of Torah as tree of life - Etz Chaim H'ee
Analogy of Children of Israel to trees - Netzer Matay Masei Yadai
Like Adam after separation of sexes, use two palm trees to cross pollinate.

Amber trapped air bubbles show double the present oxygen content, hyperbarrick chamber effect (source Jeff Berman respiratory therapist) along with pre radiation build helps understand why larger body types and longer life were common pre mabul/pre continental split.


We are sanctified by, and to the extent we keep the mitzvot/commandments.

15 (T'U) Tree related Mitzvoth to elevate the physical with:
3 year fruit Prohibition on Jews 'Orlah'.
4th year fruit sanctified.
First Fruits to Temple.
T'rumah one percent to Cohanim.
M'asser (Tithe) 1st to Levites and 2nd M'asser for Chag or for poor,
Peah/corner of field for poor
Gleaning for the poor.
Peret - single fallen grape
Ol'loth - dislocated groups of grapes
Preserving trees - Not to cut fruit trees even for war siege.
Grafting restrictions.
Shimitta 7 year cycles. Entire fruit holy, no planting, no tending, no commercial harvest.
4 minim/species take and wave on Sukkos, Palm, Esrog, Aravos, Myrtle
Blessings over: fruit trees first blossoms in spring.
exceptionaly awesome trees.
smelling trees/fruit
before eating fruit
after eating fruit.

compiled by Roger M.
rmp@pearlmancta.com
10 Shevat ,5767

correction thanks to Kira at torah org
Tyre is spelt and pronounced Tzur which means Rock.
The Edonic origin of: Earth, Rock and Tree = Eretz, Tzur, Eitz all seem to have something in common.

This is great stuff! Thanks! I didn't know about the beam being taken from Noach's ark. That would be a great subject to do a lesson on.