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In his seminal work, “Last Child in the Woods,” Richard Louv theorizes that humans have a genetically hardwired connection to the natural world.
It’s a connection that springs to life with the blossoming of a tree or flower, stimulating a kind of joy that transcends aesthetics and harkens back to a time when flora in full bloom was an unmistakable symbol of human sustenance.
The dependence on nature’s bounty is behind the Bible’s mentions of more than 100 plants, often for symbolic reasons that can enhance an understanding of the texts.
On Wednesday night and Thursday, Jews in Israel and around the world will mark the minor holiday of Tu Bishvat, celebrating nature by planting trees and eating (often dried) fruit, and paying closer attention to arboriculture.