Tonight is Rosh Hodesh Shvat, the beginning of the month of Shvat, which is known primarily for the birthday of trees. The children's song says, "The almond tree is blooming, the golden sun is shining, and from every roof birds proclaim the arrival of the holiday: Tu Bishvat has arrived - the tree holiday!" And indeed, the almond trees are blooming right on schedule. I am hoping, weather permitting, to go to Ein Kerem next week, a Jerusalem neighborhood that is in the middle of almond groves. It should be beautiful! Living Over the past couple of weeks, we have had the opportunity to hear from a number of interesting people, at least two of whom, Steven Cohen and Danny Gordis, who expressed their concern that American Jews are losing their sense of peoplehood. Some of
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