Tu B’Shevat
New Year for the Trees
Annual Torah holidays are more than rituals of remembrance. Each holiday occurs at a specific time throughout the year when there is a cosmic opening in the universe. During these periods of time, we have an opportunity to connect to the specific energy and wisdom of the holiday and improve all aspects of our lives.
What is Tu B’Shevat?
The holiday of Tu B' Shevat takes place on the 15th of Shevat. This holiday has great mystical significance and is known as the New Year for the trees. The same way that G-d is both hidden and revealed, a tree has it's trunk and leaves revealed and its root system hidden or concealed. On Tu B'Shevat, we are able to connect the spiritual and material worlds by combining both energies. Kabbalists stay up all night and study aspects of the Torah, Talmud and Kabbalistic works that pertain to fruits.
Also, the holiday falls on the full moon of Shevat, or Aquarius. According to the mystics, the letter Tzadi created the constellation of Aquarius and further serves to connect the upper (spiritual) and lower (physical) worlds. The letter Tzadi is a combination of a Yud (facing backwards) and a Nun. Yud is representative of G-d's Holy Light while the Nun represents falling from the word nefilla and, visually, the nun appears to be bent over or falling down. When we combine these distinct energies from the letters that create the Tzadi, we unite the higher and lower worlds. This unification is practiced by the Tzadikim, righteous souls, the word upon which the letter Tzadi is based. We can meditate on the Tzadi on Tu B’Shevat and all throughout the month to help us elevate all of our "fallings" and to be more proactive to reveal Light in our lives and help to manifest the gift and energy of freedom this month throughout the world.
Some Kabbalists have a special Seder of the Fruits in order to correct the original sin of humanity when Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge - particularly eating the fruits that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. The holiday has also become like Arbor day, where kid's plant trees in Israel. The historical significance is associated with the date on which the tithe of the fruit was determined.
Trees can break through limitations and boundaries and grow tall, opposing and overcoming the limits of gravity. The full energy of redemption and freedom is manifested on Tu B'Shevat when we join the higher and lower worlds with special connections to the trees.
Have a happy and Light-filled Tu B'Shevat!
Resources & Credits
The Holiday Wisdom emails and the ideas presented herein are compiled from the following sources:
Gutnick Edition Chumash with Rashi's commentary, Targum Onkelos, and commentary anthologized from Classic Rabbinic Texts and the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Apples from the Orchard - Gleanings from the Mystical Teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria on the Weekly Torah Portion
Kabbalistic Bible - Kabbalah Centre International, Inc
Chabad.org
LiveKabbalah.org
The Zohar - Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, various translations
Mysteries of the Kabbalah - Marc-Alain Ouaknin
Other online written and video content that discusses and shares Kabbalistic Wisdom