Tu Bishvat Seder Slideshow |
|
||||
|
|||||
Tu Bishvat Seder Text
"May it be God's will that by the power vested in the blessing and eating of these fruits, and by contemplating the secrets of their roots, by which we will receive God's blessing, charity and abundance; may God make them grow and prosper throughout the year for goodness and blessings, for a good life and for peace." (Etz Pri Hadar).
THE FOUR CUPS OF WINE
First Cup: Kiddush is made with white wine, representing the snow on Mount Hermon and the cold winter season.
Third Cup: ½white wine, ½ red wine, representing spring with half rainy days and half sunny days.
Fourth Cup: All red wine, symbolizing the summer, the hot days that end the agricultural season.
BARLEY: "Rabbi Judah son of Simon commented that Boaz measured six measures of barley for Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 3:15). As his reward, Boaz was privileged to have six righteous men as descendants, namely, David, Hezekia, Josiah, Hanania, Mishael & Azaria, Daniel and the King Messiah, David" (Midrash Rabba, Ruth 7:2).
GRAPES: "Why is Israel compared to a grape vine? Just as when its owner seeks to improve it, he uproots it and plants it elsewhere and then indeed it flourishes. Similarly, when God intended to make Israel's fame known throughout the world, what did He do? He uprooted them from Egypt, brought them into the wilderness, where they began to improve. They received the Torah and their reputation spread throughout the world." (Midrash Rabba, Exodus 44:1).
POMEGRANATES: "Rabbi Meir found a pomegranate; he ate the fruit and threw away the peel. This is to teach us to differentiate between the main thing and things of secondary importance." (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hagiga, 15b).
OLIVES: "Why is Israel compared to an olive? To tell you that just as the olive produces its oil only after being pounded, so Israel returns to the right way only after suffering." (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Menachot, 53b).
DATES: "Why is Israel compare to the date palm? There is no waste in any part of the date-palm. The dates are eaten, the lulav branches are used for Hallel prayer, the dried branches are used for thatch, the fibres for rope, the leaves for sieves and the planed boards for roofing. So it is with Israel that none is worthless in Israel. (Midrash Rabba, Genesis 41:1).
What do the trees of the field say? "Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy! Before the Lord ... for He is come to judge the earth." (Psalms 96:12).