Dear members and friends,

As we experience the season of winter and snow and drift into occasional hibernation, let’s hope it won’t be too challenging this year. It is interesting that at this same time of hibernation, Jews are celebrating Tu Bishvat, the “birthday” of trees. Of all possible seasons, our tradition chooses to celebrate the regeneration of life in nature when it seems to be moribund. But that’s the beauty of it, according to the Zohar, the main book of Kaballah (in Vayishlach), which says that winter is the time when we can learn about the ultimate resurrection of the dead. In winter, the trees lose their leaves and look lifeless, but then, what seems to be dry wood flowers again.

Along with millions of others, I was saddened to hear about the recent passing of David Bowie, who has contributed many of the soundtracks of our lives for many years. When I lived in New York, every morning on my way to the subway, I would pass by the Essex House, where he lived. Sometimes I would see him standing alone, unassuming, perhaps waiting for a driver. I never thought about it too much until now, when his death juxtaposes with the Torah readings about Pharaoh and his stubbornness. What is the connection? Let me explain.

Pharaoh represents extreme denial; he does not think he is subject to the same rules of mortality as everyone else and, as a result, he cannot see that the end is coming. With every plague God thrusts upon Egypt, Pharaoh’s courtiers advise him to face reality, to admit he is not invincible. God wanted the Biblical Pharaoh, or any other “Pharaohs” living among us, to show humility, to face our humanity and our mortality. Pharaoh’s persistent refusal to admit to forces greater than himself brought about his and Egypt’s ultimate demise.

Getting back to the late Mr. Bowie, it seems he was well aware of his humanity and his mortality. The lyrics and video of “Lazarus” and other songs in his last album, Blackstar, seem to be self-eulogizing, his way of admitting and dealing with his looming death. (Lazarus of Bethany is the man Jesus brought back to life four days after he died. Jesus refers to Lazarus as “asleep,” saying he would be waking up.) Unlike Pharaoh, Bowie recognized the end of his life and prepared for it spiritually, believing in life after death, just as the trees wake up after winter. Perhaps this makes it easier for us to deal with our own mortality. We have to learn to see it coming.

Happy Tu Bishvat and rejuvenating hibernation,

—Rabbi Gadi Capela