Awakened water

"The daughters of Israel passed through the sea holding their children with their hands; and when these cried, they would stretch out their hands and pluck an apple or a pomegranate from the sea and give it to them.(Midrash)" They were able to find a source for joyfulness even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Parshah Beshalach(Exodus 13:17-17:16); Water, trees and renewal of life are themes in this weeks Torah portion. This Shabbat(Saturday) is the 15th of Shevat. This day marks the new year for the trees.

Fruit represents joy and passion of life. This evening is the 15th of Shevat, the New Year for fruit trees. It is said that on this day the sap stored in tree roots awakens to its need to flow upwards. With this the unseen but very real promise of simcha(joyfulness) is released into the world.