Thursday, January 24, 2013

When Tu B'shvat falls out on Shabbos, Minhag of the Seder.

This year 5773- 2013 Tu B'shvat falls out on Shabbos. Tu Bishvat is, of course, the New Year for trees and it is said that from this day onward the upcoming season’s fruits have begun to take root. It is customary to partake lavishly in as many different fruits as possible on Tu Bishvat. Some Chassidim, including many Rebbes, have a Tu Bshvat Tish.The communities of Syria had the custom to read the Ten Commandments in Arabic on Tu Bishvat.

 There is a special Tefilla that people recite for a nice Esrog on Tu Bshvat. Poskim rule that even this year when it comes out on Shabbos you are permitted to say the tefillah. Since it is shabbos it is better to wash first eat the hamotzie and then eat the customary fruits such as the Shivas Haminim.

 Also this year is Shabbos shira and many have the mminhag of putting out bread for the birds. According to the Magen Avrohom it is better to put it out before Shabbos.

 Recently many in the Modern Orthodox or kabalistic circles conduct a Tu Bshvat Seder. Some drink 4 cups of wine, recite prayers and eat many different fruits in a specific order. There is a Hagada that some recite from as well. The origin of this costume is attributed to the Ari Z"al. However there is controversy over it and many question the minhag.It is not practiced among The yeshivish crowd or the yeshiva world in general. Rabbi yaakov Emdin wrote strongly against the Anonymous sefer that first mentioned the minhag in the name of the Ari. Click HERE for more on the topic of the TU Bshvat Seder
Rav Endins words about the sefer פרי עץ חיים on the  טו בשבט סדר: 
."הצצתי בו שעה מועטת ונרתעתי לאחורי, אז ידעתי מה טיבו ושמץ מינות ש"ץ שר"י (=שבתי צבי שם רשעים ירקב) המובלעת בתוכו בשקוצים ורמזים אין מספר". 
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2013 at 6:06 AM

    When it imitates Pesach and the specific halachos that Chazal instituted for the night of redemption; the night all the idols in Egypt were destroyed; the night all the firstborn in Egypt died at midnight; the night Avraham had the "Bris Bein Habsorim", the night of so much more. When that night gets mimicked with four 4 cups etc, it does raise a red flag.

    The 15th of Nissan was instituted by Chazal to have four cups.

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    I think the Encyclopedia Judaica attributes the Tu B'Shvat Seder to Nathan of Gaza, who was the main promoter of the Shatz sr"y. I have not seen any Admorim use this text at their Chamishah Asar Tish. On the other hand, the Tefillah for an Esrog is from the Ben Ish Chai, zya, based on the teachings of the Bnei Yissoschar, zya, which is a kosher source.

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