What is the significance of Tu B'Shvat? How was it celebrated through history, and was it celebrated through history? What are the Halachic torah sources for Celebrating it? Why the recent Popularity?
asked Dec 28, 2010 at 0:31
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2 Answers
Tu B'Shvat appears first in Mishnayos Rosh HaShana as one of the four Rosh HaShanas. The first of Shevat is the new year for trees, according to Bais Shamai, however according to Bais Hillel the fifteenth of Shevat. Fruit trees use Tu Bishvat as the cut off date in the Hebrew calendar for calculating the age of a fruit bearing tree. The Halachos of Orlah remain to this very day in the same form it had in talmudic times and uses Tu B'Shvat in the same way.
In the 16th century, the Arizal instituted that on Tu Bishvat we eat fruits from trees of Eretz Yisrael. By the Chassidim, some pickle or candy the Esrog from Sukkos and eat it on Tu Bishvat. Some pray that they will be worthy of a beautiful Esrog on the following Sukkos.
also see this link for more information http://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/379846/jewish/Tu-BShevat-Basics.htm
answered Dec 28, 2010 at 0:47
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1The Arizal lived in the 16th century; not the 17th. Furthermore I highly doubt that he "instituted" much more likely he merely suggested. What is the source for the Arizal?– mevaqeshCommented Feb 3, 2015 at 17:04
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1Isn't the Tu Bishvat sedder attributed to the chemdas hayamim?– user6591Commented Feb 3, 2015 at 17:33
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@user6591: My answer is not regarding the Tu Bishvat Seder, it is regarding eating fruits from Eretz Yisrael. Commented Feb 3, 2015 at 17:44
@mevqesh and @user6591
The “Tu B’Shevat Seder” actually predates the Chemdat HaYamim.
The earliest written mention of the Tu B’Shevat seder comes from a sefer that was first published three years before the Chemdat HaYamim, in 1728 called Birkat Eliyahu by Rabbi Eliyahu of Ulyanov.
Rabbi Eliyahu cites his contemporary, Rabbi Moshe Hagiz of Yerushayalim, regarding a Tu B’Shevat Seder.
There, Rabbi Hagiz clearly states that he himself instituted this custom, based on the words of his Rebbeim: Rabbi Hagiz’ first Rebbe was his father, Rabbi Yakov Hagiz of Morocco zt”l. Following his father’s early death, Rabbi Hagiz studied with his maternal grandfather, Rabbi Moshe “Magen” Galante, zt”l whose own grandfather, Rabbi Moshe Galante of Tzfat zt”l was a Talmid of the Arizal
This shows a clear chain of tradition from the Arizal down to Rabbi Moshe Hagiz, who first spoke of a "Tu B’Shevat Seder" and formally established it.
Here are the words of Rabbi Hagiz, as quoted by Birkat Eliyahu (page 55):
…as it is written,” כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ עֵ֣ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה - man is a tree of the field” [Devarim-Parshat Shoftim 20:19], and so I established a custom, based on what I have seen from my rabbis, and my teacher [Rabbi Moshe Galante] who, on Tu B’Shevat, would customarily recite many blessings on fruits and pray to Hashem to renew for us a good year. And they would eat these fifteen fruits…
Hope this helps.
Chag Sameach!
.א.ח.י
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1Chemdat Yamim may have first been published in 1731 but it wasn't written in 1731. This is a cool source but you are not representing it correctly. After all Chemdat Yamim also claims to have established it himself, using the same wording כאשר הנהגתי לכל החברים אשר עמדי as I have enacted to all the colleagues who are with me– Double AA ♦Commented Jan 17, 2022 at 17:22
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What do you mean he "formally established it"? He says he's just doing what his teacher's did. Also, how do you know which teacher he learned it from?– Double AA ♦Commented Jan 17, 2022 at 17:25
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@Double AA Thank you for your comments and I hope this clarifies the confusion: As you already know the Chemdat Yamim was written anonymously, and although many Gedolim (such as: Rav Yonatan Eybeshutz, Rav Ovadiah Yosef, The Chatam Sofer, The Pri Megadim, The Chaye Adam {The Villna Gaon}, and Rav Alexsander Ziskind,) since its publication in 1732 in Izmir (Ottoman Empire, now Turkey) have referenced it in an extremely very positive holy way. After all it is the source of adding: Ki Gavna, L'Dovid Ribbono Shel Olam, among other tefilot and minhagim currently done.– AchiCommented Jan 17, 2022 at 19:27
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However, there is no definitive time when it was written. and therefore, the masses only knew of its contents after it was published. Keep in mind that the sefer was also a huge source of controversy for other things written in it and more importantly what was left out of it (Tish B'Av). This along with its anonymity had many Gedolim (such as: Rav Yaakov Emden, The Baal Shem Tov, and many other Chassidic Rebbes) questioned if it was a Shabbetian work, since Shabtai Tzvi y"mz abolished Tish B'Av.– AchiCommented Jan 17, 2022 at 19:27
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1I hope this helps clear things up and you enjoy the rest of the Chag. -.א.ח.י– AchiCommented Jan 17, 2022 at 19:31