Tu B'Shevat Seder

The proper term for Tu Bishvat is Tu B'Shevat. Tu B'Shevat is a Jewish holiday celebrated at the end of January or beginning of Febuary. It is one of the four new year events celebrated in the Jewish culture. This one marks the new year for trees. During this holiday, the Jews are asked to focus on the tree and its growth as well as the tree of Torah and the spiritual growth of each person's individual trees. Just as this is a new beginning for nature, this is a new beginning in each Jew's heart to study their Torah and grow spiritually to produce good fruits throughout the year.

In the 16th century, Sephardic Jews from Spain composed a Tu B'Shevat seder that mimicked the Pesach, better known as Passover Cedar. The custom of performing the seder and eating the fruits is most common within the Chassadic communities where they have tied the Tu B'Shevat sedar with Esrog. The seder derives its name because this festive meal is very organized, each item will be blessed appropriately before it is eaten or drank.

There are four glasses of wine drunk throughout the seder but they vary in color during Tu B'Shevat. The first cup of wine is all white wine. The second cup is a white wine mixed with some red, common wines may be blush such as white zinfadel. The third cup is a red wine mixed with a little bit of white, common wines would be rose colored and may be zinfandel or cabarnet blanc. The last cup of wine is a deep red or burgundy wine. There are variations of this seder and it's traditions.

One of the traditions of the Tu B'Shevat seder include eating the fifteen kinds of fruits from Israel. These are figs, almonds, walnuts, pecans, dates, olives, cherries, plums, carob, avocado, pomegranate, orange, raisins, strawberries, and grapes. The wine will be drank and the fruit eaten during the blessing at the appropriate times. A Hagaddah is a manual that organizes each step of the seder for the host and participants.

For example, this an excerpt of the Hagaddah Shel Tu B'shvat. The Leader will say, "The first cup of wine is white, symbolizing winter. As we drink it we recall that nature has been dormant these many months, awaiting the warmth of the spring and the cycle of rebirth in the land. Blessed are you, Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe who creates the fruit of the vine." Everyone will repeat the blessing and drink the first glass of wine. - This information was found on www.akhlah.com.

Many may also eat Etrog during this day of holiday. On Tu B'Shevat the Tachnun is omitted from the morning and afternoon prayers, as well as from the afternoon prayer on the day prior to Tu B'Shevat.

Celebrating the Tu B'Shevat seder is obviously a personal choice for most practicing Jews, however, in Israel the practice is very common. Its significance marks a time when it encourages people to pray and grow spiritually. Several Jewish literatures reference the comparison of humans to trees, and how we should be growing and bearing fruit. Centuries ago, this holiday marked a way to pay the agricultural tithes due to God. Tu B'Shevat has become more popular in recent years because of the decline of nature and natural habitats. In an effort to be more aware of the earth as well as personal spiritual well being, it is becoming more widely practised. The seder can be held by anyone in their home with a few friends or be held at a local church and include many participants. Children benefit from the holiday in both a spiritual sense and an educational direction.