Almond tree - today hear this word in the prayer



" In Jeremiah 1:11 "I see a rod of an almond tree 
[shaked]...for I will hasten [shaked] my word to perform 
it" the word is used as an emblem of promptitude. 

Its Hebrew name, shaked, signifying "wakeful, 
hastening," is given to it on account of its putting 
forth its blossoms so early 

The almond tree has special significance for Tu B'Shevat. 
( The word for "almond" is shakeid (שָׁקֵד), which comes 
from a root that means to "watch" or "wake" . 

Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar— 
celebrated this year on Monday, January 25, 2016—is the 
day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. 
This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees 
in the Land of Israel