Published 5783-2023
By Rabbi Hayim Asher Arking and Rabbi Ezra Ghodsi - Ohr Halacha
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TU B’SHEVAT?
Each year has four separate occasions which mark the beginning of a distinct New Year, that is to say, there are four Rosh Hashanahs! On the first day of Nissan, we have a Rosh Hashanah for the counting of the years of a king’s reign. The day to determine ma’aser is the first day of Ellul. On the first day of Tishrei, Rosh Hashanah, all people are judged and it is relevant for the counting of the years for events such as the yovel and shemitah. Lastly, on the fifteenth of Shevat - Tu B’Shevat (Tu - טו = fifteen) - we celebrate the New Year for trees. For the purpose of terumah and orlah the year begins with Tu B’Shevat.
WHAT CHANGES ARE MADE IN THE TEFILLAH?
Tahanun is not recited on Tu B’Shevat, nor is it recited in Minha prior to Tu B’Shevat. If Tu B’Shevat falls on Shabbat then the tsidkatecha is not recited.
Just as on Rosh Hashanah, people pray for a good year, similarly, on Tu B’Shevat, it is customary to recite berachot and prayers for the prosperity of the year. Therefore, we recite berachot on all types of fruits, vegetables, and foods. Reciting a beracha causes all the living flora on earth, which provides the type of food we are eating, to be blessed. For example, when one says the blessing of ha’ets, it brings a blessing to all the fruit trees in the world to the effect that they should bring forth their fruit.
IS EVERYTHING KOSHER?
Although shemitta was last year (5782), all fruit as of this time (Shevat 5783) are still of shemitta concern as they are still on the market. In general, one should be aware of the status of terumot and ma’asrot of the differing opinions. One can see instructions for ensuring that their produce is bug-free at JSOR.org Produce Guide which contains detailed instructions for many fruits and vegetables.
IS THERE ANY SPECIAL PRAYER THAT I SHOULD BE SAYING BEFORE EATING THE FRUITS?
It is a longstanding Syrian custom to recite the Arabic translation of the Aseret Hadibrot found in Shir Ushvaha (page 515). Many have the custom to recite certain specific passages from the Torah, Mishnah & Zohar which relate to the type of fruit they are eating, found in the Sefer Pri Ess Hadar. There is also a tradition to eat a dish i.e. etrog jelly, made from an etrog that was used as part of the Arba Minim on the previous Sukkot. One should say a prayer that he should be blessed to find a beautiful etrog for the mitsva on the following Sukkot.
WHAT IS THE PROPER ORDER IN WHICH I SHOULD RECITE THE BERACHOT?
In general, when reciting berachot outside of a bread meal, one should recite the berachot in the following order: 1) mezonot 2) hagefen (note however that when reciting Kiddush, hagefen precedes mezonot) 3) ha’ets 4) ha’adamah and 5) shehacol.
WHY IS THERE A PREFERRED ORDER?
The reason for an order is that the more specific the blessing, the better and more enhanced the praise to Hashem. A broader and more encompassing beracha does not zero in on the praise as much, and therefore it is given a lower ranking in the table of berachot. Shehacol, which means “that all was created with His Word,” is the broadest beracha, and therefore the food that will receive that blessing is saved for last. In a similar vein, the blessing of ha’adamah encompasses all that grows out of the ground and as that could include the fruit of a tree, ha’ets precedes it. Wheat grows from the ground, so one could think that it has the blessing of ha’adamah, however, in the form of bread it is the basis of sustenance. Therefore, wheat has its own beracha. Even more specific, is the beracha of hagefen, although grapes come from the ground and then from a tree, wine has the unique beracha of hagefen because it is of a royal nature and deserves extra praise.
WOULD IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF I RECITE THE BERACHOT OUT OF ORDER OR IS IT JUST A NICE THING TO DO?
Although one is required to recite the berachot in the proper order, if one mistakenly recites them out of order, he can continue to recite each beracha. However, it does get complicated when one of the foods that follow is of a questionable beracha. If one has already said a beracha, it is possible for one to circumvent one beracha with a broader beracha. For example, a beracha of ha’adamah said mistakenly with the intention to include an orange will no longer allow a beracha of ha’ets to be recited on the orange.
IS THERE A PREFERENCE WHEN THE FOODS ARE OF THE SAME BERACHA?
If you have several foods which fall into one of the five groups specified above then you bless the foods in the following order: 1) the seven fruits which are indigenous to the Land of Israel 2) a whole fruit or food and 3) the food which is one’s favorite.
IF I AM EATING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FRUITS, ON WHICH ONE DO I RECITE HA’ETS?
If a platter of olives, figs, pomegranates, grapes, oranges, apples, and dates is served, then the first beracha to be recited is on one of the fruits indigenous to the Land of Israel as stated in the first pasuk of the Torah. Therefore, the first beracha would be on the olives, and if there are no olives, then on the dates. If there are no dates, then it is said on the grapes, the figs, and then pomegranates.
WHAT IF THERE ARE NO FRUITS INDIGENOUS TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL?
If the fruits which are served do not include a species that is indigenous to the Land of Israel, then you should recite a beracha on the fruit that is generally more desirable to you. If your favored fruit has already been cut up, then one would recite the beracha on the fruit which is whole, not cut or broken. This is done out of honor for the blessing. These rules also apply when presented with an assortment of foods that are of the same beracha, such as bananas, watermelon, and cantaloupe; or cookies, cake, and noodles, the food which is more desirable takes precedence unless it is not whole and the other food is
whole, then the one that is whole will take precedence.
IF THERE IS A SHEHEHIANU FRUIT, WHEN WOULD IT BE SAID?
A shehehianu fruit is regarded as the fruit that is most desirable to him. However, some say that the fruits that are indigenous to the Land of Israel still have precedence over a shehehianu fruit while others say that a shehehianu fruit takes precedence. When only eating regular fruits, one should make a beracha of ha’ets on the shehehianu fruit (provided it has not been cut up). The beracha of ha’ets should preferably be recited first, followed by the beracha of shehehianu.
SO, WHAT IS THE COMPLETE ORDER OF BERACHOT?
When one is ready to partake of the Tu B’Shevat table, he should begin with a beracha of mezonot on cookies or cakes. Next, he should recite hagefen upon wine or grape juice. Then he should say the beracha of ha’ets on olives, dates, grapes, figs or pomegranates (in that order). Otherwise, ha’ets is recited on any fruit of his choice if it is a complete fruit. If there is a fruit that one will be reciting shehehianu on, then that will take preference over other fruit. Afterward, one recites ha’adamah on the vegetable he prefers. Shehacol is the final beracha recited on food.
What fruits require a shehehianu?
One can only recite shehehianu on produce which is seasonal and therefore not available year-round. Nowadays, many fruits which are seasonal are still readily available to be purchased year-round, as they are imported from countries with warm climates, and would not require a shehehianu. If one wants to recite a shehehianu on a new fruit, they should get a more exotic one like starfruit, passionfruit, etc.
What if I do not enjoy the taste?
If one knows that he does not enjoy the taste of a specific fruit and does not feel any happiness in eating the new fruit, a shehehianu should not be recited.
Should I recite ha’ets or shehehianu first?
It is preferable, to first recite ha’ets, followed by a shehehianu, and then eat from the fruit. Some have the custom to first recite the shehehianu followed by the ha’ets.
What if I forgot to recite shehehianu?
If one is still in middle of eating, he can still recite the beracha. However, if one finished, the beracha can no longer be recited.