Page 45 - HaMizrachi_Tu BiShvat_AUS_5781
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The Middle Ages                               Rabbi Chaim Vital, a student of the Arizal,
                                    fter the expulsion of the Jews from Spain   recorded 30 different fruits to eat on Tu BiShvat
                                Ain the 15th century, many Jews immigrated   – 10 from which to throw away the external
                                to Tzfat. Among them were prominent rabbis   peel and eat the internal fruit, 10 from which
                                such as Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (the Arizal), Rabbi   you eat the external fruit and discard the peel,
                                Yosef Karo (author of the Shulchan Aruch), Rabbi   and 10 of which are eaten whole, internal and
                                Moshe Cordovero, and Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz.   external. According to Rabbi Chaim Vital, these
                                Tzfat soon became the center of Torah study, and   three types of fruit correspond to three spiritual
                                the 16th century was known as Tzfat’s “golden   worlds (briyah, yetzira, and asiya), which also
                                era.”                                      correspond to different parts of the tree. By eating
                                   It was during this period that many of the Tu   these fruits on Tu BiShvat, the kabbalists believed
                                BiShvat customs we have today were formed.   they could rectify these worlds and the sin of
                                The Arizal and his students understood that Tu   Adam and Eve.
                                BiShvat had hidden spiritual significance and   Inspired by these kabbalists, Jews around
                                instituted the Tu BiShvat Seder – prayer and   the world began to take on these customs.
                                Torah learning centered around a meal with   Today, there are various customs regarding the
                                four cups of wine, similar to a Pesach Seder. They   Tu BiShvat Seder. Some Jews like to have 15
                                established the custom of eating various fruits   different types of fruit, for the 15th day of Shevat.
                                on Tu BiShvat, especially the Shivat HaMinim of   Many Chassidim have the minhag to eat jellied
                                Eretz Yisrael, and wrote the first published version   etrog from Sukkot on Tu BiShvat and pray for a
                                of the Tu BiShvat Seder, called “Pri Eitz Hadar.”   beautiful etrog for the coming Sukkot.


















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