Tu BiShvat Seder – 5781 (Covid 19 Edition) part 5 of 5
- Carobs – חרובין
כוונה – ההו”י – וצדקה תהיה לנו כי ( דברים ו:כה)
- Pears – אגסים
כוונה – היה”ו – ליה-וה אתי ונרוממה שמו (תהילים לד:ד )
As the color of the wine begins to gets darker, we can start to see potential turn into reality. The seed of a fruit is not waste, is has potential to grow.
Many great people have turned their faults into assets. WE too can become great. This stage is comparable to the realm of formation (יצירה).
Drink the 3rd cup of wine. Half white, half red. (dark pink).
כוונה שם ה’: מ”ה (45) – יוד (20) הא (6) ואו (13) הא (6) – יצירה
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- Crabapple – עוזרדין
כוונה היו”ה – המר ימירנו והיה הוא (ויקרא כז:לג)
- Quince – פרישין
כוונה אהו”ה – את השמים ואת הארץ
- Cherry – דובדבן
כוונה – ע”ב (72) – ברך על
בורא נפשות, גימטריא – ב”ן (52) – יוד (20) הה (10) וו (12) הה (10)
- Plums – שזיפים
כוונה – יאהדונהי – גמטריה (91) : בא להם יין
- Pistachio, Peanut – פיסטוק, בטנים
כוונה – אהו”ה – את העקר ופוטר את הטפלה (משנה ברכות פו:ז)
- Peach, Loquat – אפרסקים, שסק
כוונה – אל – לזמן אכל (משנה ברכות פז:א)
- Lupine Bean – תורמוסים
משנה ברכות פז:ג
כוונה – אהי”ה – אלה-י הצב-אות יושב הכרובים
משנה ברכות פז:ד
אדנ”י – כאחד אינם רשאים
משנה ברכות פז:ב
אל”הים- הרי אלו מצטרפין לזימון
משנה ברכות פח:א
אהו”ה – היין ובית הלל אומרים
Drink the 4th cup of Wine (red with a minute amount of white).
כוונה שם ה’ : ב”ן (52) – יוד (20) הה (10) וו (12) הה (10) – עשיה
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CONCLUSION
Eating 12 different fruits is significant, since this corresponds to the 12 different arrangements of the four-letter ineffable Name of God. Upon eating the 12th fruit, we recite the verse:
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit each person under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid, for the mouth of Hashem has spoken (Micah 4:3-4).
מיכה ד: ג-ד
וְשָׁפַ֗ט בֵּין עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים וְהוֹכִ֛יחַ לְגוֹיִ֥ם עֲצֻמִ֖ים עַד רָח֑וֹק וְכִתְּת֨וּ חַרְבֹֽתֵיהֶ֜ם לְאִתִּ֗ים וַֽחֲנִיתֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ לְמַזְמֵר֔וֹת לֹֽא יִשְׂא֞וּ גּ֚וֹי אֶל גּוֹי֙ חֶ֔רֶב וְלֹֽא יִלְמְד֥וּן ע֖וֹד מִלְחָמָֽה וְיָֽשְׁב֗וּ אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֧חַת גַּפְנ֛וֹ וְתַ֥חַת תְּאֵֽנָת֖וֹ וְאֵ֣ין מַֽחֲרִ֑יד כִּי פִ֛י ה’ צְבָא֖וֹת דִּבֵּר.
Eating 15 different fruits is also significant, since this is the numerical value of Yud-Heh, the Name of God which connects the physical to the spiritual, between this world and the next world. In the Holy Temple, the Leviim would sing each of the 15 Shir HaMa’alot Tehillim as they ascended each of the 15 steps.
After-Blessing:
After enjoying all the wonderful pleasures that G-d has given us, we complete the process with a meaningful, heartfelt thanks to the Creator.
Those who ate bread say the ברכת המזון. Otherwise, we say the מעין שלש – including the relevant lines for cake, wine, and/or fruit, plus the special insertion for Shabbis, if applicable.
Rabbi Abba taught: There is no more revealed redemption – no greater indication of the impending redemption – than that which the verse (Yechezkel 36:8) states: And you, mountains of Israel, you shall give forth your branches and you shall bear your fruit for my people Israel, for they shall soon come. (Talmud – Sanhedrin 98a)
יחזקל לו:ח
אַתֶּ֞ם הָרֵ֚י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עַנְפְּכֶ֣ם תִּתֵּ֔נוּ וּפֶרְיְכֶ֥ם תִּשְׂא֖וּ לְעַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֥י קֵֽרְב֖וּ לָבֽוֹא:
Rashi explains: When the Land of Israel will give fruit bountifully, this is an indication of the impending redemption, and there is no greater indication than this.
We come to the end of the Tu B’Shvat seder. We have only touched the surface of the true meaning of the holiday and of the significance of trees and fruit in G-d’s creation. That is the beauty of the Jewish calendar. Each year we celebrate the same holidays, yet each year we grow and develop many new insights.
Tu B’shvat reminds us to see and eat the fruits of Eretz Yisrael and recognize all Jews must live here. It is only here that we can reach our potential and lifelong goal to be as close to G-d as possible , דביקות. The Torah comes from Zion (Israel), the mitzvos are to be performed here. The manna מן of the desert is now permeating in the fruits of the Land of Israel (Chesed LeAvraham). The fruits of Eretz Yisrael are on the same level and serve the same purpose as manna from heaven. The abundant fruits show us that Moshiach ben Yosef’s arrival is imminent.
…The fruits of Eretz Yisrael, however, come from holiness; and the spirituality that was fitting for the manna attached itself to these holy fruits. This is why manna existed in the desert and not in Eretz Yisrael. (Chesed LeAvraham, Nahar 21).
Just as we plant seeds and do nothing other than add water and a fruit tree grows, so too we are not in charge of our livelihood פרנסה. All comes from G-d. In Chutz LaAretz there is an illusion of כחי ועצם ידי עשה לי את החיל הזה (the strength of my hand has performed and accomplished this powerful act, Devarim 8:17). However, here in Eretz Yisrael, eating of its fruits, we see and know that everything, even our income, health and security is not dependant on our efforts, but only on G-d.
It’s a privilege and a blessing to serve G-d and eat of the fruits of Eretz Yisrael. We learn from Moshe Rabeinu himself, how each and every Jew must strive to live here. We are not just Jews but Jews from Judea or more accurate – “Yisraeli” from the land of Yisrael, the children of Yaakov.
Here in Eretz Yisrael we recognize the merit זכות that we get our sustenance directly from G-d and not via angelic ministers (impure forces). Recognizing these facts, living in Eretz Yisrael and eating its fruits פירות, enables us to get closer to G-d.
In 30 days from today is the holiday of Purim. This is now the time to learn the laws הלכות of Purim. Where is Haman alluded to in the Torah? In Bereshis (3:11), when G-d asked Adam and Chava if they ate from the forbidden tree, המן העץ. This can also be read as, “Haman the tree”. The Tree in this posuk is the tree of Knowledge עץ הדעת.
בראשית ג:יא
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֚י הִגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ כִּ֥י עֵירֹ֖ם אָ֑תָּה הֲמִן הָעֵ֗ץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר צִוִּיתִ֛יךָ לְבִלְתִּ֥י אֲכָל מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אָכָֽלְתָּ:
And He said, “Who told you that you are naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” )Bereishis 3:11)
The snake was the progenitor of evil Amalek which then permeated to Kayin. This same evil power has persisted throughout the ages up until today. Tonight is the potential to fix תיקון the sin of eating from the tree. The power to eradicate evil Amalek from the world is empowered to the Jews who live in Israel who do the mitzvos of Hashem. In one month, on Purim, we will read Megilas Esther and remember to eradicate Amalek and Haman of The Tree.
רמב”ם משנה תורה זמנים הלכות מגילה וחנוכה א:א; ב: יח
קְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה בִּזְמַנָּהּ מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים. וְהַדְּבָרִים יְדוּעִים שֶׁהִיא תַּקָּנַת הַנְּבִיאִים. וְהַכּל חַיָּבִים בִּקְרִיאָתָהּ אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים וְגֵרִים וַעֲבָדִים מְשֻׁחְרָרִים. וּמְחַנְּכִין אֶת הַקְּטַנִּים לִקְרוֹתָהּ. וַאֲפִלּוּ כֹּהֲנִים בַּעֲבוֹדָתָן מְבַטְּלִין עֲבוֹדָתָן וּבָאִין לִשְׁמֹעַ מִקְרָא מְגִלָּה. וְכֵן מְבַטְּלִים תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה לִשְׁמֹעַ מִקְרָא מְגִלָּה קַל וָחֹמֶר לִשְׁאָר מִצְוֹת שֶׁל תּוֹרָה שֶׁכֻּלָּן נִדְחִין מִפְּנֵי מִקְרָא מְגִלָּה. וְאֵין לְךָ דָּבָר שֶׁנִּדְחֶה מִקְרָא מְגִלָּה מִפָּנָיו חוּץ מִמֵּת מִצְוָה שֶׁאֵין לוֹ קוֹבְרִין שֶׁהַפּוֹגֵעַ בּוֹ קוֹבְרוֹ תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ קוֹרֵא:
כָּל סִפְרֵי הַנְּבִיאִים וְכָל הַכְּתוּבִים עֲתִידִין לִבָּטֵל לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ חוּץ מִמְּגִלַּת אֶסְתֵּר וַהֲרֵי הִיא קַיֶּמֶת כַּחֲמִשָּׁה חֻמְּשֵׁי תּוֹרָה וְכַהֲלָכוֹת שֶׁל תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה שֶׁאֵינָן בְּטֵלִין לְעוֹלָם. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכָּל זִכְרוֹן הַצָּרוֹת יְבֻטַּל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה סה טז) “כִּי נִשְׁכְּחוּ הַצָּרוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת וְכִי נִסְתְּרוּ מֵעֵינִי”. יְמֵי הַפּוּרִים לֹא יִבָּטְלוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (אסתר ט כח) “וִימֵי הַפּוּרִים הָאֵלֶּה לֹא יַעַבְרוּ מִתּוֹךְ הַיְּהוּדִים וְזִכְרָם לֹא יָסוּף מִזַּרְעָם”:
It is a positive mitzvah ordained by the Rabbis to read the Megillah at the appointed time. It is well-known that this was ordained by the Prophets. Everyone is obligated in this reading: men, women, converts, and freed slaves. Children should also be trained to read it. Even the priests should neglect their service in the Temple and come to hear the reading of the Megillah. Similarly, Torah study should be neglected to hear the reading of the Megillah. Surely, this applies to the other mitzvos of the Torah: the observance of all of them is superseded by the reading of the Megillah. There is nothing that takes priority over the reading of the Megillah except the burial of a meis mitzvah – a corpse that has no one to take care of it. A person who encounters such a corpse should bury it and then read the Megillah. ( Rambam Mishneh Torah, Zemanim, Megila Chanuka 1:1)
All the books of the Navi and all the Holy Writings will be nullified in the Messianic era, with the exception of the Book of Esther. It will continue to exist, as will the five books of the Torah and the halachos of the Oral Law, which will never be nullified. Although all memories of the difficulties endured by our people will be nullified, as Yishayah 65:16 states: “For the former difficulties will be forgotten and for they will be hidden from My eye,” the celebration of the days of Purim will not be nullified, as Esther 9:28 states: “And these days of Purim will not pass from among the Jews, nor will their remembrance cease from their seed.” ( Rambam Mishneh Torah, Zemanim, Megila Chanuka 2:18)
סיום התקון בפירות פרי צדיק עץ חיים, סדר ט”ו בשבט
השקיפה ממעון קדשך מן השמים, וברך עלינו את השנה הזאת לטובה ולברכה!
כי אתה ה’ לבדך מרבץ נדחי ישראל – את צמח דוד עבדך מהרה תצמיח וקרנו תרום בישועתך
שנה טובה!
לשנה הבא בירושלים הבנויה!