ט"ו בשבט
Tu B’Shvat
The New Year for the Trees
ט”ו שבט / February 13, 2025
WHAT IS TU B’SHVAT?
The 15th of Shvat on the Jewish calendar marks the beginning of the “New Year” for trees. Commonly known as Tu B’Shvat, this day marks the season when the trees in Eretz Yisroel awake from their winter slumber and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.
Tu B’Shvat is celebrated by eating fruits, particularly from the shivas haminim – the seven unique fruits that are singled out in the Torah for their praise and bounty in the land of Eretz Yisroel: חיטה – wheat, שעורה – barley, גפן – grapes, תאנה – fig, רימון – pomegranate, זית – olive, דבש/תמר – date (honey). If tasting fruit for the first time this season, one recites the bracha of Shehecheyanu (a blessing designated for joyous occasions, thanking Hashem for “sustaining us and enabling us to reach this occasion.) The bracha Shehecheyanu is recited before the standard “Ha’etz” bracha is recited on fruit.
THE SHIVAS HAMINIM – שבעת המינים
The Seven Blessed Fruits of the Land
Generally, the Shivas Haminim can be split into two types: 1) grain, and 2) fruit from trees. Grain is necessary for sustenance. Fruits add pleasure to life. Both are important, and therefore, both are included in the blessing for the land of Eretz Yisroel.
From the seven species, we celebrate the five fruits that grow on trees (pleasure) even more than the grains (necessity.) This lesson imparts that even when a person is in the early stages of spiritual growth (at the level of trees and all growing things), he must set a goal of serving Hashem “בכל נפשך ובכל מאדך” with all your soul and all your might – which includes the attributes of desires and pleasures. For a Yid’s “Avodas Hashem” – serving Hashem can only be truly complete if it’s done with true pleasure.
PLANT GOOD SEEDS – WITH GOOD DEEDS
Tu B’Shvat teaches us that, from the start, our intentions must be to serve Hashem with all seven Divine attributes – each of the seven fruits corresponds to the seven Middos – attributes of Hashem.
It says,” דברים כ:יט) “כי האדם עץ השדה) “Man is a tree of the field.” Every soul possesses all seven of these attributes. But one trait is more dominant for each person, shaping the individual’s unique path in serving Hashem.
חיטה – Wheat
Kindness – חסד
תאנה – Figs
Perserverance – נצח
שעורה – Barley
Severity – גבורה
רימון – Pomegranate
Humility – הוד
תמר – Dates
Royalty – מלכות
גפן – Grapes
Harmony – תפארת
זית – Olives
Foundation – יסוד
TU B’SHVAT SEGULOS – MERITS
Yeshuahs – Salvation
R’ Moshe of Lelov zt’’l said that Tu B’Shvat is a merit for Yeshuahs. Just like a tree is blessed with fruit, so too, every Yid should be blessed with a Yeshuah – salvation from the fruits of his labor. (Fruit also refers to his offspring – children.)
Eating Esrog
The Yid HaKodesh of Peshischa zt’’l said, “One who eats Esrog on Tu B’Shvat will merit to live that year.
Parnassah – Livelihood
The word חמשה עשר is the same letters as “שער שמחה.” On this special day, the gates of joy are opened, and good tidings flow. Just like a tree bears fruit, its blessings pour forth on Hashem’s children to be blessed with bountiful parnassah and everything good.
Pray for Children
Like a person is compared to a tree, “כי האדם עץ השדה” – one can daven for good children and those who don’t yet have children, to bear children.