The Tu Bishvat Revolution that Happened 400 Years Ago.

Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Some people still observe Tu BiShvat the old way.  Some observe it the newer way.  The dramatic change in how we commemorate it happened in the 17^th century.

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Tu B’Shvat underwent a metamorphosis because of the publication of a new mystical and kabbalistic work. The work was called Chemdas Yamim and its origins are somewhat obscure. It was printed anonymously and it was the publication of this Sefer that caused the Tu B’Shvat revolution.

[By the way, according to Rav Yisroel Belsky zt”l, it is pronounced Tu B’shvat where the shva is a short e sound as in the first e in the word “between” rather than as an i as in “bitcoin.”]

HISTORICALLY

Most people knew (and still know) very little about Tu B’Shvat. We knew it as the Rosh HaShana for trees. This was based upon the first Mishna in the tractate Rosh HaShana, “Beis Shammai is of the opinion that Rosh HaShana for trees is the 1st of Shvat. Bais Hillel says that it is the 15th.”

What does the term “Rosh HaShana” in this context mean?. We often associate Rosh HaShana with Day of Judgment. But are trees actually judged on this day?

ISN’t THAT SHAVUOS?

The consensus of Rabbinic thought is that there is a Rosh HaShana for trees, but it is not Tu B’Shvat – it is Shavuos. The Gemorah in Rosh HaShana (16a) states clearly trees are judged on Shavuos. This is also how the majority of commentators understand this Gemorah.

What then is the nature of the Rosh HaShana of Tu B’Shvat as discussed in the tractate of Rosh HaShana (2a)?

ACCOUNTING DIMENSION

It is more like a fiscal year – beginning of the year. In regard to all Mitzvos associated with trees, Tu B’Shvat begins the year and ends the previous year. Maaser, for example, cannot be taken on fruits from one year to the next year. The same is true for the laws of Orlah – until it sees its third and fourth Tu B’Shvat (with one other proviso according to the Rambam) it is still forbidden to be consumed.

The laws of Trumah, Shviis, are also affected by the date of Tu B’Shvat. In short, it is a technical Rosh haShana – the date that is crucial for all the agricultural halachos.

MORE THAN A FISCAL YEAR

This approach, however, is not so simple. The Shulchan Aruch rules (OC 572:3) that a community that wishes to establish a communal fast on a Monday or Thursday, and it happened to fall on Tu B’shvat – the fast should be pushed off until the next week. The Shulchan Aruch references the Hagaos Maimonius, but the question was first posed to Rabbeinu Gershom MeOhr HaGolah.

The problem is that this seems to show that there is much more than a “fiscal year” nature to Tu B’Shvat. No fasting means that there is something other than technical details of the agricultural halachos going on here.

Another halacha brings out this point as well – a Chosson should not fast on his wedding day if it falls out on Tu B’shvat (See Mishna Brura 573:7).

If it is only fiscal – then why do we not fast? The answer is that there must have been some dimension of ruchniyus- spirituality here.

The Mogain Avrohom (131:16) writes that the Minhag among Ashkenazim is to eat fruits of trees on this day.

ONLY IN ASHKENAZIC CIRCLES

It is interesting to note that all of the Tu B’Shvat holiness minhagim are traced to Ashkenaz Jewry. It seems that they were privy to traditions not found in the Talmud Bavli. These traditions were not passed down to Sefardic schools or the writings of the Sefardic Rishonim. There is also no mention of Tu B’shvat practices in the writings of the AriZal either.

Throughout the Rishonim and the early Achronim – only these three halachos were mentioned.

THE BOMBSHELL ERUPTS

Then, historically, a bomb shell erupted. The Sefer Chemdas Yamim, an anonymous kabbalistic work written in the late 17th century on mystical aspects of Shabbos and the Yamim Tovim appeared. It was not limited to mysticism. It mentioned halacha, mussar, and many of the Minhagim of the Arizal.

Initially, the great Acharon Rav Yaakov Emden believed that it was written by a follower of Shabtai Tzvi. Since then, however, it has been accepted by many various groups in Klal Yisroel. Chassidim and Sefardim use it as a source for many Kaballah minhagim.

This sefer has in it something called, “The Tu BeShevat Seder” (see Vol. 2, Shovevim Ch. 3, p. 108-110), which has become very popular among many various groups of Jews. Indeed, a whole Seder of events was described with psukim recited for each of some thirty different fruits.

Sefer Chemdas Yamim was originally published and edited in 1732 by the great Rabeinu Yaakov Ben Yom Tov Algazi, the father of the Maharit Algazi, who was a friend of the Chida. This gave the sefer great credibility and authenticity. The hesitations of Rav Yaakov Emden were soon forgotten.

Whether or not they were to adopt the Tu B’Shvat Seder (most people did not) – the Chemdas Yamim pointed the way for the great Baalei Machshava to see and describe the spiritual essence of Tu B’Shvat.

THE CAIRO GENIZAH

The author of the Chemdas Yamim was unaware of something that was to be discovered in the late 1800’s in Egypt. This was the Cairo Geniza where well over half a million items placed in Shaimus in a shul in Cairo for over a thousand years were discovered.

In the Cairo Genizah were special piyutim (hymnal prayers) that were apparently recited with the Shmoneh Esreh in Eretz Yisroel during the times of the Gaonim.

OUR LOST HERITAGE

What were in these piyutim? They described a spiritual dimension to Tu B’Shvat that clearly demonstrated to all that Tu B’Shvat was a deep spiritual experience for the Torah community in Eretz Yisroel.

Unfortunately, the Yiddishkeit of Eretz Yisroel’s Gaonim was soon to be utterly destroyed with the advent of the Crusades. Jewish blood flowed in the streets like rivers. Those Jews were viciously murdered. It seems, however, that some remembrance of the “holiness” practices remained with Ashkenazic Jewry.

So what was the spiritual dimension of Tu B’Shvat? Where did the holiness emanate from? What is it that these three halachos allude to?

TIME OF PRE-REDEMPTION

The Apter Rav, author of the Ohaiv Yisroel (end of Parshas Shlach) (1748-1825) zatzal explained that the month of Nissan is when the Jewish nation will ultimately be redeemed in the future. Forty days or so before this time is an “aschalta degeulah,” an awakening of the time of Bias HaMashiach – the arrival of Mashiach.

Chazal, therefore, established this time as a holiday with aspects of the sparks of the redemption that will occur in Nissan. It is this day, Tu B’Shvat, which is imbued with the holiness of the Aschalta – beginnings of the Geulah.

Therefore, all the halachos of Trumah, Maaser, Orlah, will begin on the day imbued with the holiness of the impending redemption.

Even though the redemption did not yet occur, the holiness is still inherent in the day. The Klausenberger Rebbe points out (Drashos 5741) that Avrohom Avinu baked Matzos on the day of Pesach even before it happened according to the Midrash (BR 48:12). Why? Because the holiness is part of the very day – even before it transpired. The same is true for Tu B’shvat.

We may ask, however, why is there a special minhag of eating the fruits of Eretz Yisroel on this day? And what is the further or deeper connection between the Rosh HaShana for trees and the future redemption?

We find in the Mechilta (BeShalach chapter 3) that Rabbi Yishmael tells us that the Red Sea was split through the merit of Yerushalayim. At first glance this seems bizarre. What does the redemption from Mitzrayim have to do with Yerushalayim?

The Midrash tells us (Esther Rabbah 1:9) that Yerushalayim is the way that Eretz Yisroel is often referenced because it is the center of Eretz Yisroel. We find, therefore, that this Mechilta is telling us that the merit of Eretz Yisroel brings about Geulah – redemption.

THE CENTRALITY OF ERETZ YISROEL

Tu B’Shvat, in its primary role, highlights the trees and fruits of what Eretz Yisroel is blessed with. It is the merit of Eretz Yisroel, that brought about the past Geulah from Egypt according to this Mechilta. It would seem very appropriate that the merit of Eretz Yisroel will bring about the future Geulah as well.

It would seem that these are the reasons for our halachic minhagim as well. We eat the fruit of Eretz Yisroel on Tu B’Shvat so that the Aschalta of the Geulah will materialize through the merit of Eretz Yisroel.

The author can be reached at [email protected].

Tu BiShvat Multiple Choice Quiz

1. According to Rav Yisroel Belsky, how should “Tu B’shvat” be pronounced? a) With a “shva” sound like in “bitcoin” b) With a short “e” sound like in “between” c) With a long “a” like in “late” d) With a silent “h” sound
2. Which school of thought said that Rosh HaShana for trees is on the 15th of Shvat? a) Beit Shammai b) Beit Hillel c) The Rambam d) The Arizal
3. On which holiday are trees actually judged according to the Gemorah in Rosh HaShana? a) Tu BiShvat b) Rosh Hashana c) Shavuot d) Sukkot
4. What is the primary function of Tu BiShvat in terms of agricultural laws? a) It’s a day of judgment for trees b) It marks the fiscal year for tree-related mitzvot c) It’s when new trees should be planted d) It determines when fruits become ripe
5. What happens if a communal fast day falls on Tu BiShvat? a) The fast continues as normal b) The fast is shortened c) The fast is pushed off until the next week d) The fast is cancelled entirely
6. According to the Mogain Avrohom, what was the Minhag among Ashkenazim? a) To fast on this day b) To plant trees on this day c) To eat fruits of trees on this day d) To give charity on this day
7. Which sefer caused a “revolution” in how Tu BiShvat was observed? a) The Shulchan Aruch b) Chemdas Yamim c) The Cairo Genizah d) Ohaiv Yisroel
8. When was the Chemdas Yamim first published? a) 1632 b) 1682 c) 1732 d) 1832
9. What was discovered in the Cairo Genizah relating to Tu BiShvat? a) Ancient fruit recipes b) Special piyutim (hymnal prayers) c) Agricultural records d) Tree planting instructions
10. According to the Apter Rav, what is the significance of Tu BiShvat’s timing? a) It marks the beginning of spring b) It’s when trees begin to blossom c) It’s about 40 days before the month of redemption (Nissan) d) It marks the end of winter
11. Which groups initially preserved the “holiness” traditions of Tu BiShvat? a) Sephardic Jews b) Ashkenazic Jews c) Chassidic Jews d) Yemenite Jews
12. What can NOT be done with fruits from different Tu BiShvat years? a) Eating them together b) Taking Maaser from one year for another c) Selling them together d) Storing them together
13. Who originally edited and published the Chemdas Yamim? a) The Chida b) Rav Yaakov Emden c) Rabeinu Yaakov Ben Yom Tov Algazi d) The Maharit Algazi
14. According to the article, what historical event destroyed much of the Tu BiShvat traditions in Eretz Yisroel? a) The Roman conquest b) The Crusades c) The Babylonian exile d) The Spanish Inquisition
15. What happens if a Chosson’s wedding day falls on Tu BiShvat? a) He must fast anyway b) He should not fast c) He should fast half the day d) He can choose whether to fast
16. According to the Mechilta, through whose merit was the Red Sea split? a) Moshe b) The Jewish people c) Yerushalayim d) The Avos