Everybody knows that Ohio is “The Buckeye State.” The buckeye tree (aesculus glabra) is native to North America. In late summer and early fall, the trees bear fruit that contain a large nut. The nut gives the tree its name because it is dark brown with a light spot, resembling the shape and color of a deer’s eye.
The buckeye is used in the names of many Ohio-based companies and organizations. It is the official mascot of The Ohio State University, where current students and alumni refer to themselves as Buckeyes. It was only recently that I decided to explore the history of this unique nickname. The history, as usual, is fascinating.
The first recorded use of the term “Buckeye” to refer to a resident of the area was in 1788, some 15 years before Ohio became a state. Col. Ebenezer Sproat, a man of large girth and swashbuckling mannerisms, led the legal delegation at the first court session of the Northwest Territory in Marietta. The Native Americans in attendance greeted him with shouts of “Hetuck, Hetuck” (the word for buckeye), it is said, because they were impressed by his stature and manner. He proudly carried the Buckeye nickname for the rest of his life and it gradually spread to his companions and to other local settlers. By the 1830s, writers were commonly referring to locals as “Buckeyes.”
But it wasn’t until 1840 that the national association with the nickname spread. Virginia-born Ohioan William Henry Harrison was running for president when his opponent commented that he was better suited to be sitting in a log cabin. Harrison’s supporters decided to put a positive spin on the reference that was aimed to be negative. They dubbed him the ‘log cabin candidate, creating his campaign emblem with a log cabin made from buckeye timbers and fashioned with strings of buckeyes decorating the walls. The campaign was successful as Harrison beat president Martin van Buren’s bid for re-election. After the election, Ohio became known as ‘The Buckeye State.’ The buckeye is also the state tree.
In this month, January 25th, we celebrate “Tu B’shevat — Jewish new year for trees.” According to Biblical law, there is a seven year agricultural cycle, concluding with the Sabbatical year. When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, on years one, two, four and five of this cycle, farmers were required to separate a tenth of their produce and eat it in Yerushalayim. This tithe is called Maaser Sheni, the Second Tithe, because it is in addition to the (two percent which must be given to the Kohain, and the) ten percent which is given to the Levite. In the third and sixth years of the cycle, instead of the owners eating the fruit in Jerusalem, they gave this second tithe to the poor, who were permitted to consume it wherever they wished. It was therefore of vital importance to ascertain when the new year started for produce.
While we currently, until the revelation of Moshiach, do not have our holy temple — and thus most of the laws of the fruits of land do not apply — we can all learn a lesson from trees. The Torah (Deuteronomy 20:19) tells us that “A man is like the tree in the field.” A tree has three main components: the roots, stem and fruits.
In the service of a Jew, we can say the following: The root is his faith which links the Jew with his origin and which constantly obtains for him his spiritual nourishment. The stem are the Torah and Mitzvot. These must grow even as the age of a tree increases its stem and branches. But the fruit, which more than anything else justifies the existence of the tree — is the good deeds of man, those Mitzvot which benefit others as well as self, and which have within them the seed that produce similar good deeds.
There is another very important lesson for the parents of young children: A seemingly small scratch on a young sapling can leave a lasting scar on the fully grown tree. Think, then, about how critical the formative years are — and how careful we must be when educating our children. These are the years that we must educate our children and instill the proper Jewish morals, values, tradition and ethics that we all hold so sacred and dear. We must ensure that our young “buckeyes” are receiving the proper spiritual nourishment and atmosphere that is most conducive for spiritual growth and development. Most of that really depends on the example that we, as parents and grandparents, set for our children.
Are you a proud Buckeye?
Shabbat Shalom!