Tu B'Shevat

The Rebbe at a Tu B'shvat Farbrengen

The fifteenth day of the month of Shevat is the New Year for Trees.

Customs

In 1987, the Rebbe called for gatherings to be held on Tu B'Shevat to strengthen and increase Torah study, davening, and particularly to strengthen following in the ways of the Baal Hilula of Yud Shevat - the Frierdiker Rebbe.

The Rebbe noted the custom to eat carobs on this day (in addition to the Shivas HaMinim), which have a special connection to miracles, "like the Gemara's story about Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa who managed with just a kav of carobs from Erev Shabbos to Erev Shabbos, and subsequently experienced many miracles, being 'accustomed to miracles".

During a Yechidus Klalis held on the 13th of Shevat 1987, the Rebbe said that it is a Jewish custom to eat tasty fruits on Tu B'Shevat and to make a Shehecheyanu blessing on at least one fruit. In the last sicha we have heard from the Rebbe close to Tu B'Shevat, he mentioned the custom of eating fruits in general, and particularly fruits from Eretz Yisrael.

Some have the custom to recite portions from Tanach and the Zohar on Tu B'Shevat. The Rebbe writes about this: "I have not seen this custom practiced in our countries."

The Rebbe negates the custom of planting trees on Tu B'Shevat and writes that "this is an entirely secular matter" and should not be mixed with halachic customs. The Rebbe also references the Gemara which states that non-fruit bearing trees do not constitute settling Eretz Yisrael.

Tachanun is not recited on Tu B'Shevat, and similarly, Tachanun is not recited during Mincha on the 14th of Shevat.

Name of the Date

Some refrain, for various reasons, from saying "Tu B'Shvat". In the Rebbe's sichos and writings, the common terminology is "Chamisha Asar B'Shvat", though there are several references to the day as "Tu B'Shvat".

Spiritual Significance of Rosh Hashanah L'Ilanois

In many places, the Rebbe explains the spiritual content of Rosh Hashanah L'Ilan regarding avodas Hashem, based on the posuk "Ki ha'adam etz hasadeh" (for man is like a tree of the field):

• Care for a tender sapling has a significant impact on the entire future of the tree; similarly, investment in chinuch at a young age has much more influence than at an older age.
• The tree is generally divided into three parts: a) The root - hidden from the eye, but upon which the main chayus of the tree depends, and hints to emunah, b) The trunk of the tree - the vast majority of the tree, hints to the fulfillment of Torah and mitzvos by a person, c) The fruits - the purpose and completion for which the tree was created, hints to a person's influence on their surroundings and bringing merit to the masses.
• The main responsibility for the growth of the tree lies with the gardener, hinting to people entrusted with youth education - parents and mechanchim.
• For the tree to grow properly, harmful weeds must be removed from it, hinting to many unsuitable friends, and it must be provided with living water - hinting to Torah, for water refers to Torah.
• Unlike wheat, vegetables, and legumes which are meant to satisfy a person and hint to necessary avodah, fruits are only for pleasure and refinement, hinting to avodas Hashem from pleasure, which is a higher avodah, and even seeing trees bearing fruit alone brings pleasure.

Events in Judaism

• 1823 - Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Margolios, author of 'Shaarei Teshuvah' on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim, passed away.
• 1848 - Rabbi Shalom Halperin, Rebbe of Vasloi, grandson of Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin, was born.
• 1856 - Rabbi Yaakov Chai Algaz, Rav of Novel - Tunisia, passed away.
• 1865 - Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib Friedman, Rebbe of Pashkan, founder of Pashkan Chassidus, great-grandson of Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin, was born.

Events in Chabad

• 1860 - The writing of a Sefer Torah began before the birth of the Rebbe Rashab, following a dream of Rebbetzin Rivka Schneerson, wife of the Rebbe Maharash.
• 1940 - Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe's father, was sent into exile in Chili to serve five years of imprisonment.
• 1942 - The Frierdiker Rebbe returned from Chicago to 770 in New York for the funeral of his mother, Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneerson, wife of the Rebbe Rashab.
• 1971 - The Rebbe held a farbrengen on Tu B'Shvat for the first time in Chabad Chassidus history, and called to "conquer the world through Torah study."
• 1988 - The Rebbe's last weekday farbrengen (except for sichos that the Rebbe continued to say while standing at the shtender on the davening bimah).
• 1997 - Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Ramat Aviv was established.
• 2009 - The first Chabad House for travelers in Central America opened on Cozumel Island, Mexico, by the shluchim Rabbi Dudi Caplin and Rabbi Shlomi Peleg.
• 2011 - Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Diskin was chosen as Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Ata.

Born

• 1788 - Reb Nechemia of Dubrovna, known as Reb Nechemia HaLevi Birach Ginsburg, son-in-law of the Alter Rebbe's son - Reb Chaim Avraham.
• 1927 - Rabbi Menachem Mendel Baumgarten.
• 1947 - Rabbi Pinchas Neustadt, Rosh Mesivta at Yeshivas Achei Tmimim in Rishon LeTzion.

Passed Away

• 1852 - Reb Nechemia of Dubrovna, known as Reb Nechemia HaLevi Birach Ginsburg, son-in-law of the Alter Rebbe's son - Reb Chaim Avraham.
• 1855 - Rabbi DovBer Schneerson, son of Rabbi Chaim Avraham Schneuri and grandson of the Alter Rebbe.
• 2019 - Rabbi Avraham Lisson, a dedicated chassid and oved Hashem, baal menagen and mashpia at the Nachum Yitzchak Synagogue in Kfar Chabad.
• 2023 - Rabbi David Nintzinsky, owner of the unique shofar enterprise "Shofar Beis David" in Beitar Illit.

In The Rebbe's Presence

Throughout the years when Tu B'Shvat fell on Shabbos, the Rebbe held farbrengens in honor of the date in the following years: 1956, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990.

The first time a farbrengen was held on Tu B'Shvat during weekdays was in 1971 (between Mincha and Maariv) and the heavenly matters discussed then became well-known.

Subsequently, farbrengens were held on the following occasions: Motzei Tu B'Shvat 1972; Motzei Tu B'Shvat 1974; Motzei Tu B'Shvat 1975; Motzei Tu B'Shvat 1977; Motzei Tu B'Shvat 1978; night of Tu B'Shvat 1979; night of Tu B'Shvat 1981; night of Tu B'Shvat 1982; night of Tu B'Shvat 1984; night of Tu B'Shvat 1985; night of Tu B'Shvat 1988 (and in subsequent years when weekday farbrengens were no longer held, the Rebbe gave sichos on: Sunday 16 Shvat 1989; Sunday 14 Shvat 1992 before dollars distribution; night of Tu B'Shvat 1992 (in the small zal); Motzei Tu B'Shvat 1992).

In honor of Tu B'Shvat, the Rebbe published edited maamarim: D"H Arba'ah Roshei Shanim of Tu B'Shvat 1971 - Kuntres Chamisha Asar B'Shvat 1991; D"H BaChodesh HaShlishi of Tu B'Shvat 1974 (published in Kuntres 22 Shvat 1990); D"H Hineni Mamtir of Tu B'Shvat 1977 (published at the time); D"H Basi LeGani of Tu B'Shvat 1978 (published in Kuntres 22 Shvat 1989).

Additionally, in 1974 the Rebbe visited "Machon Chana" after the farbrengen; and on Tu B'Shvat 1991, the Rebbe distributed a five-dollar bill to each person who passed before him after the sicha.