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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>TOU BISHBAT IS THIS SUNDAY NIGHT February 8, 2009. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in;background:#F8FCFF'><b><font
size=5 color=black face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Tu Bishbat: History and Customs<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p style='text-indent:.5in;background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>
Joseph Mosseri<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-indent:.5in;background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-indent:.5in;background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Tu
Bishbat (è"å áùáè) is a minor Jewish
holiday celebrating the New Year of the Trees. It is one of the four Rashe
Shanah ("New Years") mentioned in the Mishnah. Tu Bishbat marks Rosh
HaShanah La'ilanot (øàù äùðä
ìàéìðåú) "the New Year of the
Trees". The name Tu Bishbat comes from the date of the holiday, the 15th
day of Shebat (ùáè). Shebat is the name of a Hebrew calendar
month and è"å, read as "Tu," is how the number 15 is
represented by Hebrew numerals using the Hebrew alphabet. This date
generally falls on the second full moon before Passover, or, in a leap year,
the third full moon before Passover.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt'>
</span></font><font face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-family:Arial'>Tu
Bishbat started out as merely the date used in calculating the tithe on tree
fruit, and evolved into a minor holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Tu Bishbat is not mentioned at all in the TaNaKH. The earliest mention of it is
the Mishnah which was completed around the year 200 CE. In fact even in
the Mishnah it is only mentioned once in Masekhet Rosh Hashanah 1:1, </span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>which states
there are four new years. Only two of the new years listed have any observances
associated with them today: Rosh Hashanah and Tu Bishbat.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>
The Mishnah states: There are 4 New Years. On the first on Nisan is the New
Year for Kings and for Festivals. On the first of Elul is the New Year for the
tithe of the animals, but according to Ribbi Eliezer and Ribbi Shimon it is on
the first of Tishri. On the first of Tishri is the New Year for the years and
for Sabbatical Years (Shemitah) and for Jubilee Years (Yobel) for planting and
for vegetables. On the first of Shebat is the New Year for Trees, according to
Bet Shammai, but according to Bet Hillel it is on the fifteenth.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>
We follow the opinion of Bet Hillel and observe the fifteenth of Shebat as the
New Year for Trees. Even so the Mishnah does not state anything festive about
this day nor does it mention any particular celebrations or observances
associated with this day. It is very probable that this day took on a more
special meaning when the Nation of Israel was exiled from its land after the
destruction of the Second Bet HaMiqdash around 68 CE. After many years living
outside of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>
this day added another connection between the people and the land that their
ancestors were thrown out from. That connection was none other than that
of partaking of the fruits of Eress Yisrael that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place> was blessed with.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>
Over the centuries this custom became well known among Jewish communities in
every corner of the globe but it wasn’t until the 16<sup>th</sup> century
that this holiday was given a greater dimension. The Meqoubalim of 16<sup>th</sup>
century Safed invigorated this holiday by prescribing what fruits and nuts to
eat and in what order. They also said that 4 different cups of wine had to be
drunk just like when the Hagadah would be recited on the night of Pesah.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>
These Meqoubalim were generally great Sephardic Rabbis who were steeped in the
mysteries of the Torah. They had a belief that Creation is composed of four
separate worlds, or levels. Classifying fruits that are eaten on Tu Bishbat
into these separate categories helped to symbolize these levels.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>The four worlds are: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>Asiyah:
"action" --- our world, the lowest level, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>Yessirah:
"formation" --- the second lowest level, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>Beriah:
"creation" --- next to highest level, and <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>Assilut:
"emanation" --- highest and purest level. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>There are no fruits that could fit into the highest level but
there are fruits for each of the other 3 levels and it is preferable to have 10
fruits for each level, corresponding to the 10 Sefirot.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Group number 1 is all fruit. BERIAH. Holiness at this level needs
no protection. (Some of the fruits included in this group are not actually
considered totally edible by most people, such as apples; small seeds are
ignored in the symbolism.)<br>
The 10 items are: <br>
Grapes or Raisins<br>
Figs<br>
Apples<br>
Etrog (Citron) <br>
Kumquat<br>
Pear<br>
Quince<br>
Mulberry<br>
Trilobed Sorbus<br>
Carob<br>
<br>
Group 2 outer fruit with a large center pit. YESSIRAH. These fruits are edible
on the outside, but have pits on the inside, such as peaches. The edible
portion symbolizes holiness. At this level, holiness can be left exposed, but
its inner core, its "heart," must still be protected.<br>
The 10 items are: <br>
Olive<br>
Date<br>
Cherry (Must be sweet) <br>
Jujube<br>
Peach<br>
<st1:place w:st="on">Plum</st1:place> or Prune<br>
Apricot<br>
Sour Morello Cherry<br>
Hawthorn <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Berry</st1:State></st1:place><br>
Loquat<br>
<br>
Group 3 outer peel and inner fruit. ‘ASIYAH. These fruits all have an
inedible outer shell, such as nuts. The edible part of the fruit represents
holiness. In our world, holiness is hidden and we have to seek it out. The
fragile holiness has to be protected within our world.<br>
The 10 items are: <br>
Pomegranate<br>
Walnut<br>
Almond<br>
Chestnut<br>
Hazelnut<br>
Acorn<br>
Coconut<br>
Pine nuts<br>
Pistachio<br>
another nut like <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Pecan</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region></st1:place>, Macadamia; or Banana.<br>
<br>
There have been Sephardic Jews in every country over the last 350 years who
have been reading from a book entitled Peri Ess Hadar (<st1:place w:st="on">Salonika</st1:place>
1753) and following this ritual of eating fruits, drinking wine, and reading
portions of the TaNaKH, Mishnah, and Zohar.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Among Sephardim in different countries this holiday was given nick
names like:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Hamishosar, El Khabat, Eid El Shjar, Tafqi’ El Sajar,
Frutas, etc..<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>It was very common for special bags to be made for friends and
neighbors, and especially children and fill them with all types of dried fruits
and nuts. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>In old <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:City></st1:place>
where the majority of the Jews once spoke Ladino trays of fruit were sent as
gifts like Mishloah Manot. These were known as Platiko. The special bags as
Frutas Bolsas and kids would compare what they got and trade favorites with
each other. These same customs existed in many other countries as well but
without the Ladino names.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Many people would just try and have as many fruits as possible
just to praise God and share this bounty with relatives and friends. Others
would take this opportunity to study the laws of Berakhot and teach them to all
those who celebrated with them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>In <st1:City w:st="on">Aleppo</st1:City> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region></st1:place> there was a special folkloric
Judeo-Arabic song for this holiday whose tune is still popular today even
though most people have forgotten the happy words. Another custom associated
with Tu Bishbat in Halab was the reading of the Aseret HaDiberot with the
translation (Sharh) of Se’adyah Gaon. This was done on Tu Bishbat in
preparation of Perashat Yitro and the giving of the Ten Commandments which is
always the Shabbat after Tu Bishbat.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Tu Bishbat is a happy day on which no Tahanunim are said it is a
day that reconnects us with the <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Land</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Israel</st1:PlaceName> and there is a new custom
(over 100 years old) to plant trees in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place> on this day. </span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>The
tradition of planting trees started in 1890 when the teacher and writer Zeev
Yabetz went out with his students in a school in Zikhron Yaaqob for a festive
planting. This initiative was adopted in 1908 by the Israeli Teachers trade
union and later on by the Land Development Authority (Haqeren Haqayemet
LeYisrael, also called the Jewish National Fund). Many Jews throughout the
world call <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> on this
day and make donations to plant trees and forests through out <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place> on this New Year of Trees.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><u><font
size=5 color=black face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'> Tizku Leshanim Rabot
Ne’imot VeTobot!<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><u><font
size=5 color=black face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='background:#F8FCFF'><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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