By Rabbi Chanoch Oppenheim

The Talmud tells a story about a man named Choni, who once observed someone planting a carob tree. Choni asked him how long it would take for the tree to bear fruit.“ Seventy years,” the man responded. Choni asked a second question,“ Are you certain you will live another seventy years?” And the man replied,“ I found( ready grown) carob trees in the world. Just as my forefathers planted these for me, so I too plant these for my children.”

There’ s no ambiguity in this message: Some of the most important and meaningful things we do in life are not for us, but instead, they are for future generations. Tu B’ Shvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, is not a holiday of fireworks, food, or fanfare. Instead, it asks a quieter

question: what am I planting in the world today and who will benefit from it tomorrow?

In an age of instant gratification where“ fear of missing out”( FOMO) unfortunately reigns supreme, we see others traveling, having fun, celebrating, achieving and we worry whether our own lives measure up.

The story of Choni offers an antidote to that anxiety. A meaningful life isn’ t measured by how exciting a moment appears to an onlooker. It’ s measured by the seeds we plant, the kindness we offer, the relationships we nurture, and the communities we help build and maintain.

Planting a tree is a powerful metaphor for building meaningful relationships. It takes patience, consistency, and care. It is rarely dramatic or exciting, and yet the same is true for building

communities. They grow slowly and quietly but their impact lasts far longer than any moment of excitement.

Here in Charlotte, our Jewish story is also one of planting. The synagogues, schools, organizations, cemetery, and community spaces we rely on today didn’ t appear overnight. They exist because earlier generations, some of whom arrived with little money and few connections, had a great desire to build Jewish life in the Carolinas. They planted so we could grow.

That spirit was embodied beautifully in the life of Sandra Goldman, of blessed memory, who served as director of the Hebrew Cemetery for sixteen years. Sandra was known not only for her dedication but for the dignity and compassion she brought to families during some of their

most vulnerable and painful moments.

A cemetery might not be the first place we associate with growth, but it is one of the deepest expressions of memory and communal responsibility. Sandra helped ensure that all Jews, including generations of Charlotte Jews most of us never met, would be remembered, honored, and cared for.

Like the man planting the tree in the Choni story, she didn’ t see the full impact of her work but so many people in the community will benefit from it for decades to come. Sandra’ s legacy reminds us that caring for the past is also a way of planting for the future.

Charlotte has another aspect of history; another story of planting – and that is the long-standing relationship between segments of the Black and Jewish communities. During periods of social change, partnerships were made in civil rights as well as conscious efforts to share struggles for dignity and mutual advocacy.

And so, members of both communities planted seeds of respect, and shared moral responsibility. Even though these stories didn’ t always make headlines, they shaped the cultural and ethical landscape of our city.

When we celebrate Tu B’ Shvat and think about planting for the future, it’ s worth noting that just as trees send their roots beneath the surface, relationships between communities grow strongest through quiet acts of kindness, respect, and presence. Those seeds have been planted and continue to be nurtured and maintained.

Tu B’ Shvat invites each of us – regardless of background, belief, or level of Jewish observance to ask, what am I planting for my family, my friendships, my city, and in my Jewish community – and beyond?

There’ s much Jew hatred and a lack of moral clarity on earth, what message of hope can Tu B’ Shvat bring to the splintered world in which we find ourselves? We might not be able to control what’ s going on around us but we can choose to be planters and builders rather than withdraw into isolation.

The way we do this is by remembering those who came before us and caring for those who will come after us. Like the carob tree in Choni’ s story, even if we never see its full growth or can benefit from its fruits, we know our efforts will one day bear fruit, and that is the quiet hope of Tu B’ Shvat. It is also the story of Charlotte’ s past, present, and future, which is still unfolding.

The Charlotte Torah Center is an organization that serves as a community resource for traditional Jewish education at all levels for people of all backgrounds. Through group classes, one on one study, special seminars and explanatory learning worship services, students are exposed to the wealth of knowledge accumulated over centuries. The Center fosters lifelong study, appreciation for Judaism and pride in one’ s heritage.