What is Tu B'Shevat?
It is customary to eat fruit which is grown In Eretz Yisroel and to eat fruit which one has not yet eaten that season so that the Shehecheyanu blessing can be recited.
The reason for the festive mood of this Rosh Hashanah of trees (as opposed to the Rosh Hashanah of the first of Elul, which is observed without distinction from any other days) Is that Tu b’Shtvat bespeaks the praise of the Land of Israel - for on this day the strength of the soil of Eretz Yisroel is renewed and It begins to yield its produce and demonstrate Its inherent goodness. And it is with reference to the fruit of the trees and the produce of the soil that the Torah praises the land of Israel, as the verse (Devarim 8:8) states: A land of wheat and barley, of vines. figs. and pomegranates. A Land of olives and honey.
The verse speaks of two types of grain and five types of fruit when describing the richness of Eretz Yisrael. The Honey that the verse mentions refers to honey derived from dates.
Thus, the day on which the soil of Eretz Yisrael receives renewed strength to give forth its bounty is a day of rejoicing for the people of Israel, who till the land, who love it and who yearn for it.
When Israel eats the fruits of the land and enjoys their goodness, they offer blessing before deriving pleasure. and afterwards give thanks to He Who has bequeathed this precious land to them. They pray that God renew its youth - and their own - as in the days of old and in accord with all that He promised Avraham. Yitzchak, and Yaakov. This is in fulfillment of the verse (ibid: 10) which speaks in praise of the Land of Israel: And you shall eat and be sated, and bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.
Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov
Book of Our Heritage
Feldheim Publishing - New York
The reason for the festive mood of this Rosh Hashanah of trees (as opposed to the Rosh Hashanah of the first of Elul, which is observed without distinction from any other days) Is that Tu b’Shtvat bespeaks the praise of the Land of Israel - for on this day the strength of the soil of Eretz Yisroel is renewed and It begins to yield its produce and demonstrate Its inherent goodness. And it is with reference to the fruit of the trees and the produce of the soil that the Torah praises the land of Israel, as the verse (Devarim 8:8) states: A land of wheat and barley, of vines. figs. and pomegranates. A Land of olives and honey.
The verse speaks of two types of grain and five types of fruit when describing the richness of Eretz Yisrael. The Honey that the verse mentions refers to honey derived from dates.
Thus, the day on which the soil of Eretz Yisrael receives renewed strength to give forth its bounty is a day of rejoicing for the people of Israel, who till the land, who love it and who yearn for it.
When Israel eats the fruits of the land and enjoys their goodness, they offer blessing before deriving pleasure. and afterwards give thanks to He Who has bequeathed this precious land to them. They pray that God renew its youth - and their own - as in the days of old and in accord with all that He promised Avraham. Yitzchak, and Yaakov. This is in fulfillment of the verse (ibid: 10) which speaks in praise of the Land of Israel: And you shall eat and be sated, and bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.
Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov
Book of Our Heritage
Feldheim Publishing - New York
