Page 57 - HaMizrachi #26 Tu Bishvat USA 2021

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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