[Avodah] Monday, February 6th will be Tu’bishvat. Are there any special customs observed in honor of Tu’bishvat?

[Prof. L. Levine]

>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis

Q. Monday, February 6th will be Tu’bishvat. Are there any special customs observed in honor of Tu’bishvat?

A. The Magen Avrohom (131:16) writes that there is a minhag on Tu’bishvat to eat many varieties of fruit. Some poskim write that one should especially eat fruit of the five species with which the land of Israel was blessed (grapes, figs, dates, olives, and pomegranates) [Yalkut Yosef - Minhagei Tu’bishvat]. Some refer to this as the Seder of Tu’bishvat, and this seuda (meal) is used as an opportunity to offer praise to Hashem for the special fruits of the land of Israel. Rabbi Haim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1869) in Moed Likol Chai 30:7-8 and others present various customs how to celebrate this seder.

The Bnei Yisaschar (Ma’amer Chodesh Shevat) writes that there is a minhag to daven on Tu’bishvat that one should merit to find a kosher and beautiful esrog. Piskei Teshuvos (288:7) writes that such a tefilah may even be said on Shabbos. (However, one who sells esrogim should not say this tefilah on Shabbos, since he will have in mind his business and it is inappropriate to pray for one’s business dealings on Shabbos.)

Some have the minhag to eat esrog jam on Tu’bishvat. Mishnah Berurah (225:16) writes that one does not recite the beracha of shehechiyanu even if one has not eaten an esrog this season; since the esrog can live on the tree the entire year, it does not have a specific season.


Professor Yitzchok Levine

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