In Meir Soloveichik's article, "Why Jews Used to Ear Dried Carob on Tu b'Shvat," the strange tradition of eating carobs on Tu b'Shvat is discussed. While I've never eaten (or heard of) a carob before, the message of the article was still relatable. Essentially, regardless of the custom, it's important for Jews to find some way to connect to the land of Israel and to our past. Whether that be through eating dried carobs on Tu b'Shvat, going to Israel (for four months perhaps?), or any other form of connection, that is one of the most intrinsic parts of our religion. Everyone connects differently, and there is no right or wrong way, but finding our own way is crucial. For me, being in Israel and being able to connect with the land and history has been incredible, and it's only just beginning. But since there are Jews living everywhere in the world who speak different languages and practice Judaism differently, the only was for us to remain connected is our tradition. There's no one single tradition, but anything that brings us closer to Israel and each other is important. Even if it's a gross carob.
Check out the article here: http://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/2015/02/why-jews-used-to-eat-dried-carob-on-tu-bshvat/
I really enjoyed your perspective on the article. There are many traditions that are imbedded into Judaism, and although they are not always the most pleasant, they make our religion into what it is today. Taking part in the pleasant and unpleasant traditions unite us as a whole and further connect us as a community. Although eating carob is not as drastic as spending a 4 month semester in Israel, I believe both play a role in finding one's Jewish identity.
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