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>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis</div>
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Q. Monday, February 6th will be <em class="ContentPasted0">Tu’bishvat</em>. Are there any special customs observed in honor of
<em class="ContentPasted0">Tu’bishvat</em>?</td>
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<p class="ContentPasted0">A. The Magen Avrohom (131:16) writes that there is a <em class="ContentPasted0">
minhag</em> on <em class="ContentPasted0">Tu’bishvat</em> to eat many varieties of fruit. Some
<em class="ContentPasted0">poskim</em> 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
<em class="ContentPasted0">Seder</em> of <em class="ContentPasted0">Tu’bishvat</em>, and this
<em class="ContentPasted0">seuda</em> (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 <em class="ContentPasted0">seder</em>.</p>
<p class="ContentPasted0">The Bnei Yisaschar (Ma’amer Chodesh Shevat) writes that there is a
<em class="ContentPasted0">minhag</em> to <em class="ContentPasted0">daven</em> on
<em class="ContentPasted0">Tu’bishvat </em>that one should merit to find a kosher and beautiful
<em class="ContentPasted0">esrog</em>. Piskei Teshuvos (288:7) writes that such a
<em class="ContentPasted0">tefilah</em> may even be said on Shabbos. (However, one who sells
<em class="ContentPasted0">esrogim</em> should not say this <em class="ContentPasted0">
tefilah</em> on Shabbos, since he will have in mind his business and it is inappropriate to pray for one’s business dealings on Shabbos.)</p>
<p class="ContentPasted0 elementToProof">Some have the <em class="ContentPasted0">
minhag</em> to eat <em class="ContentPasted0">esrog</em> jam on <em class="ContentPasted0">
Tu’bishvat</em>. Mishnah Berurah (225:16) writes that one does not recite the <em class="ContentPasted0">
beracha</em> of <em class="ContentPasted0">shehechiyanu</em> even if one has not eaten an
<em class="ContentPasted0">esrog</em> this season; since the <em class="ContentPasted0">
esrog</em> can live on the tree the entire year, it does not have a specific season.</p>
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<p class="ContentPasted0 elementToProof">Professor Yitzchok Levine<br>
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