All About Tu B’Shvat

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A Tu B’Shvat shuk in Israel
Tu B Shvat (ט”ו בשבט), the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Shevat
(שבט), is the New Year for trees. In Israel, many people celebrate Tu B Shvat by planting trees.
A Tu B’Shvat Seder is a special way to celebrate the holiday. This seder follows a specific order and includes recitations and songs. Participants in the seder drink four cups of wine and eat special fruits and nuts.
Another way we celebrate Tu Bishvat is by eating special foods. Some people eat the fruits for which the Torah praises the Land of Israel, called Shivas Haminim. These include wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
It is customary to eat dried fruit that we have not eaten during the year (i. e. carob), so we can say the Shehechiyanu blessing. In that blessing, we thank God for keeping us alive and healthy until this day. It is also customary to eat Etrog (Citron) as a segulah for finding a nice Etrog for the following year’s Succos.

 

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