500 years ago, when the Jews of Spain were suffering from the Inquisition, a famous doctor by the name of Avitar Ibn Karashkash lived in Madrid. To escape the wrath of the Inquisition, he left his beautiful and prestigious job as a skilled surgeon, and exiled himself to a small town. There, he hoped he would be left to live out his life in peace.
Avitar had a young son, Avraham. Avraham was delighted with his new life in the small town where Avitar was able to devote many hours of attention to Avraham and personally supervise his Torah studies. In addition, Avitar carefully instructed Avraham about the special garden he had planted, discussing with Avraham each plant growing there.
One day, Avitar called his son into the garden and said, “Today is Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees. On this day it is decided in the Heavenly Courts which trees will bear fruit and which trees will dry up. What is within our power is to plant trees, to care for them and to hope that they will grow and bear fruit. However, this is not dependent on us.”
Avraham would never forget that special Tu B’Shevat when his father permitted him, for the first time, to plant saplings. And he would never forget his father’s serious words: “Avraham, promise me that you will always try to be a good Jew, to grow upright and faithful to our people.”
Twelve saplings Avraham planted that day, according to the years of his life. Then, Avitar took Avraham to a part of the garden where no one else was permitted. Avitar was experimenting with certain plants there. “Avraham,” Avitar said quietly to his son, “Remember what I am telling you. If ever you need to leave here and I am not with you, come here first. Take out this sapling and you will find something underneath that will have a tremendous influence on you in the future.”
A few months later, in the middle of the night, the hoof-beats of a horse were heard near the Karashkash house. There was a sharp knock on the door.
“What do you want?” asked Avitar.
“Are you Avitar Ibn Karashkash, the man to whom G-d has given the strength to heal the sick?” asked the stranger.
“That is my name,” answered Avitar. “But I am no longer permitted to work in my profession.”
“I am Duke Francisco Alba. My dear wife, the Duchess, is very sick and needs an operation urgently. You must come and operate on her or else she’ll die. You cannot let her die,” begged the Duke in a plaintive voice.
“Certainly you have access to great doctors in Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona,” said Avitar. “Why me? You surely know that I am forbidden to practice my profession. Doing so could only endanger my life.”
“I have been everywhere and have approached everyone. No one will perform the dangerous operation. I beg of you, help me,” the Duke cried. “I will make sure no one harms you. I will bring a ship to take you and your family to safety if necessary. My wife is suffering. Please, help.”
The Duke broke out in uncontrollable tears. “I will do what you ask of me,” said Avitar. “But one thing you must promise. If anything happens to me, you must take my son to safety.” The Duke agreed readily.
Avitar hadn’t lost his skill as an expert surgeon. The operation went well and the Duchess’s life was saved. But when he returned home, he found the officers of the Inquisition awaiting him.
Avraham broke out in a bitter cry as his father was taken away. Soon, though, the Duke’s men arrived; they had heard what happened to the faithful doctor and would take Avraham to a safe haven. They promised him that the Duke would do everything in his power to save Avitar.
Avraham didn’t want to go with the Duke’s men, but he had no choice. He asked them to wait a moment until he got his things together. Avraham quickly made his way to the special part of the garden. He carefully dug up the sapling and uncovered a box. Opening the waterproof box he found a pair of tefillin and a note. “These tefillin will give you strength and encourage you in Judaism so that you not, G-d forbid, fall into despair and dejection. In addition, carefully take the sapling you have uprooted, and plant it in new earth. Guard it and care for it painstakingly, and it will be the source of great livelihood for you. For this sapling is from a far-off land. It provides food for the special silkworms that produce the valuable silk material purchased from abroad. Remain a good Jew, my dear son, and the good L-rd will bless you and help you like the blessing of your father who loves you — Avitar Ibn Karashkash.”
Avraham wiped away his tears and went to join the Duke’s men. He wondered if he would ever see his father alive again.
Months later, while Avraham was living on the island of Majorca, he turned thirteen. Precisely at the moment when he first put on his tefillin he saw a small boat coming closer to the port. As it got closer he couldn’t believe what he saw. His father was getting out of the boat!
After an emotional meeting, Avraham found out that the Duke had finally been able to save Avitar from the Inquisition. Avitar explained that he had not come earlier because he had been sick. He did not, however, explain that his “sickness” was due to the terrible torture he had suffered at the hands of the inquisitors.
In due time, Avitar and Avraham gathered around themselves a group of Jews and set up a Jewish settlement on the island. And each year, on Tu B’Shevat, they planted saplings according to Avraham’s years.
