VBM TU BISHVAT The Almond Tree By Harav Yaakov Medan

I The almond tree, which during this very time of the year dons its white apparel, its "kittel," heralds the impending New Year, the New Year for trees. It represents its fellow trees, proclaiming the spring before its time: The almond tree rushes to blossom before the other trees. (Radak, Yirmeyehu 1:12) The period during which trees generally blossom is the month of Nisan: One who goes out during the days of Nisan, and sees trees blossoming, recites…. (Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayyim 226:1) And the Mishna Berura explains: During the days of Nisan – This is the usual situation, for it is ordinarily then that in the warm countries the trees blossom. (Mishna Berura 226:1) If, then, the almond tree is alacritous, and its flowering precedes Nisan by two months, this is no empty matter.