Each year, the Jewish calendar marks the new year for trees with Tu B’Shvat, this year celebrated on Feb. 13. This date establishes the cutoff for defining fruits as part of a specific harvest cycle for tithing. An interesting notion those is how certain fruits, like lemons and almonds that bud early in the winter may belong to different harvest cycles, even if they grow on the same tree in the same orchard. This subtle distinction highlights an important truth: the flow of time isn’t just a backdrop to our lives — it actively shapes our experiences and the way we interact with the world around us.

The lesson of the holiday goes beyond agriculture. Our lives may appear static, but in reality, even our most familiar routines, relationships and surroundings are constantly evolving. Although the things we experience may seem repetitive, we’re always changing as people.

The fruit on the tree, though identical in appearance, can belong to a different cycle depending on the season it was born into. Similarly, we often pass through familiar spaces or encounter the same tasks, but each time we do so, we approach them as different people. This perspective invites us to recognize the subtle shifts within ourselves and around us, helping us see time as a powerful force that shapes our lives, even when it feels like nothing has changed.

This idea extends particularly well to education, where growth is both individual and collective. A student........

© The Leader