Tu Bishvat
Tu Bishvat will be observed, G-d-willing, tonight, and tomorrow, Monday. As we have mentioned in previous years, there are unique customs observed on the night of Tu Bishvat. We shall now review these points briefly.
The Prohibition of Fasting and the Customary Reading of the Zohar
It is forbidden to fast on the day of Tu Bishvat. Some customarily hold an order of learning on the eve of Tu Bishvat and read portions of the Mishnah and Zohar that are associated with this special day. Hagaon Harav Yaakov Rokach zt”l compiled a special book for the order of this night called “Peri Etz Hadar”. Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l writes that one should learn while trying to understand as much as possible on this night, and not just read without understanding. One should try to focus on learning the Halachot pertaining to Tu Bishvat, especially the laws of Orlah (forbidden fruits of a tree planted within three years) and Terumot U’Ma’asrot (tithes). One should try as much as possible to understand what he is reading and not just to read the words alone, for reading without understanding is not considered learning at all. Only regarding the reading of the Zohar is reading without understanding indeed considered learning.
The Customary Eating of Fruits
It is customary to partake of a large variety of fruits and recite the appropriate blessings on them on the eve of Tu Bishvat in order to show that this day is the New Year for trees. This custom is mentioned in the works of the Mekubalim as well, and it is a fine custom.
Checking the Fruits for Worms
Fruits which usually contain worms or insects in them must be opened and checked prior to reciting the blessings on them. One must be extremely careful in the checking of fruits that are known to contain worms, for consuming them is a grave sin; one who consumes even one worm transgresses five Torah prohibitions (Pesachim 24a). One who consumes a worm taints one’s soul and blocks one’s heart from the service of Hashem. Indeed, Hagaon Rabbeinu Chizkiya di Silwa (author of the “Peri Chadash) took issue with the orators of his time who would expound nicely upon stories and hints of the Torah but would not rebuke the people about the terrible sin of consuming worms and the like.
One must take special care regarding dried fruits during the Tu Bishvat season which are known to contain worms, such as dried figs which are very difficult to check. There have been certain authorities who have banned eating dried figs and the like altogether due to the difficulty of checking them. One must therefore take extreme care in this matter.
Reciting the “Shehecheyanu” Blessing on a New Fruit
On a new fruit (meaning a fruit that one has not eaten yet this season), one recites the blessing of “Shehecheyanu Ve’Kiyemanu Ve’Higianu La’Zeman Hazeh”. One should first recite the regular blessing on the fruit and only afterwards should one recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing, as per the rule of “common and uncommon, the common takes precedence”. Thus, the fruit’s regular blessing which is recited on a more frequent basis precedes the “Shehecheyanu” blessing which is not recited as frequently.
If one has several kinds of new fruits in front of him, one “Shehecheyanu” blessing suffices for all of them. However, this only applies when all the new fruits are in front of him, for if not, one must recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing anew for each kind of fruit.
Praying for a Beautiful Etrog
Some have the custom that on the day of Tu Bishvat one should pray for a beautiful Etrog (citron) for the holiday of Sukkot. Although some oppose this custom since the judgment of trees is not actually decreed on this day, nevertheless, there is some basis for this custom and many great individuals have followed suit. Indeed, Hagaon Rabbeinu Yosef Haim zt”l, who was extremely erudite in the hidden Torah and knew the deep meanings of the different times of year, observed this custom and actually authored a special order of prayers and requests for this day in his Sefer Leshon Chachamim.
Maran zt”l’s Etrog in Cairo
We have discussed in the past that when Maran zt”l served as the head of the Cairo rabbinical court in the beginning of the year 5709/1948, Hashem aided him in fulfilling the Mitzvot of the Torah in wonderous manners. During that time, a military conflict erupted between the newly established state of Israel and Egypt and, as a result, the borders between the countries were sealed. Needless to say, Maran zt”l and the other Jews in Egypt could not secure Etrogim for the Sukkot holiday. Maran zt”l prayed that Hashem would send him an Etrog that year as well.
While this was unfolding, a ship laden with Etrogim was on its way from Israel to a country abroad and the captain of the ship mistakenly entered Egyptian territorial waters. When the Egyptian coast guard realized that an Israeli vessel had entered their waters, they quickly intercepted it and confiscated all of its contents, including the Etrogim. Since the Egyptians did not have any knowledge or use for these fruits, they decided to deliver them to the heads of the Cairo Jewish community to do with them as they saw fit. This is how Maran zt”l and his community were able to take all Four Species during the Sukkot holiday that year amid much joy and gladness.
