Ra'anana Community Kollel - Parshat B'shalach 5764

Shabbat Shira Tu B’Shevat

Rabbi Dovid Horwitz

This Shabbat is special for two reasons. Firstly, it is referred to as Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song, as we read about the splitting of the sea and the subsequent song that was offered to Hashem in appreciation of their salvation, and secondly, heralds in the festival of Tu B’sehvat, the Jewish New Year for the trees.

Tu B’shevat is a holiday shrouded in mystery, for people are often unsure as to what exactly it is about. Do trees really need to celebrate their own Rosh Hashanah? Interestingly, the only halachic ramification that Tu B’shevat creates is regarding the separating of tithes from the fruits of the trees. Any fruits that begin to grow after Tu B’shevat are considered to be the fruits of the new year. The fruit which developed on the trees up until this time are considered to be last year’s fruits. As one is not allowed to tithe the old fruit with new fruit, it is important for us to be conscientious of this festival. Although this issue is of little practical concern to the average consumers who don’t tithe their own produce anyway, as they rely on the kashrut division of the city to do so, it has become a day to reflect upon and appreciate the bounty that Hashem has given us. For this reason, there is a beautiful custom to eat fruit on Tu B’shevat. Of course, since the laws of tithing only apply to fruits grown in Eretz Yisrael, on Tu B’shevat, one should attempt to partake of fruits that were grown in the land of Israel. In addition, Jewish tradition encourages us to eat from those fruit that Eretz Yisrael is praised for. As it says in the Torah, “a land of wheat and barley and grapevines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and (date) honey.” The land is praised with reference to two species of grain and five species of fruit. Also, many have the custom of purchasing a wide array of fruits and nuts, such as dried bananas, apricots, almonds, and the like.

Because fruit is not considered to be an integral part of a meal, a brachah is required before eating fruit, even when eaten during a bread meal. Therefore, those who eat fruit during the Shabbat meals, in honor of Tu B’shevat, need to keep in mind the appropriate brachah to make on each fruit, as well as eating them in their appropriate order of preference. The order of preference for the fruits of Eretz Yisrael is: olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates. When eating a new fruit, one recites the Shehechiyanu brachah as well.

The coinciding of Shabbat Shira and Tu B’shevat is especially significant, as they both share a common theme of appreciating the land of Israel. The ultimate purpose of saving the Jewish people at the sea was in order to bring them into Eretz Yisrael. Essentially, the song that was sung at the sea was a heartfelt thank you for gracing us with the opportunity of living in the land of Israel. As true lovers of Zion, let us sing the song of the sea and eat the fruits of the land with true fervor and pray for the final redemption of Israel and Zion.

Shabbat Shalom & Tu B’shevat Samayach!