Be'Ezrat HaShem, tonight we celebrate Tu be'Shevat, the New Year of the Trees. Usually, when we think about Tu be'Shevat we imagine a warm gathering with family and friends around fancy fruit platters, thanking HaKadosh Barukh Hu for the New Year of the Trees. However, there is a much deeper meaning behind this beautiful and powerful festival.
The Tu Bishvat seder is a Kabbalistic ritual meal in honor of the Mishnaic New Year for the Tree. We travel through the four worlds of Kabbalah from the beginning to the end of the Tu Bishvat seder in order to strengthen THE tree, that is, the Kabbalah's Tree of Life.
On the simplest level, the four worlds can be thought of as levels of intimacy with HaShem. At the lowest level (Asiyah) we see and create divine patterns in the physical world, while at the highest level (Assilut) we stand alongside HaShem's sustaining power, merging our will into the divine.
The goal of the seder is to draw all these levels close together and to unite their koah, power, and shefa, overflowing energy, to the fertility of the earth and the trees themselves, so that both physical and spiritual abundance will express themselves in this world.
Structure of the Tu B'Shevat Seder :
The structure of the Tu B'Shevat seder is familiar to us is similar to the Pesah seder. Like Pesah, it is framed by the drinking of four cups of wine, behind which there are many levels of symbolism embodied in these four cups. Each cup represents a different realm of creation in the Kabbalah's understanding of the universe.
In our Tu B'Shevat seder, each cup, or world, is accompanied by eating fruit symbolic of that
world and an activity that embodies the spirit of the world. As we go through the seder, we
will see the same basic structure to each of the four worlds. This seder embodies a variety of rituals that represent the physical, the creative, the intellectual, and the spiritual. We begin by saying a berakha on the wine and then drinking it. Next there is a brief explanation of the fruit that represents the realm which we are in. The explanation is followed by a brief meditation taken from a miderash that elaborates on the nature of one of the fruits from this particular world. After the meditation is spoken, the nature of the fruit and what it represents is briefly spoken about, the berakha over the fruit is said and the fruit is eaten. Then, after the blessing and meditation, there is a further group reading and learning about these themes.
The Seder includes:
a. The seven species by which the Land of Israel is praised:
a. Figs
b. Dates
c. Pomegranates
d. Olives
e. Grapes(or raisins)
f. Wheat and Barley (in the form of bread, cake or cereal)
b. Various nuts with the shells (walnuts, almonds, pistachios, coconut), and fruits with peels (oranges, pomegranates, avocado)
c. Other fruits with edible seeds (ex. blueberries)
d. Other fruits with inedible pits (ex. peaches, plums)
e. Wine or grape juice, both white and red
First Level:
Asiyah (Making),
First Cup of Wine (all white),
fruit with inedible shell;
physical.
Second Level:
Yessira (Formation),
Second Cup of Wine (white with a drop of red),
fruit with inedible pit;
emotional.
Third Level:
Beriah (Creation),
Third Cup of Wine (half white, half red),
fruit with no shell or pit;
intellectual.
Fourth Level:
Assilut (Spirit),
Fourth Cup of Wine (red with a drop of white)
no fruit, only spiritual sustenance;
spiritual.
The First Level: Asiyah (Making)
The realm of Asiyah is the furthest from perfection in the Kabbalistic scheme. Symbolically,
this realm requires the most protection, and therefore we eat fruits that have a shell on the
outside – to protect them from the external elements. With this fruit and cup of wine, we have a rooted awareness of the tangible world around us, in both its natural and human
dimensions. We concentrate on our proper place in that world. Fruits from the realm of assiya include pomegranates, almonds, walnuts, bananas, peanuts,
etc.
Identifying With Fruit: As we celebrate the realm of Asiyah and all that it represents, let's peel off our metaphorical shells and share some of ourselves with the community that has gathered to celebrate Tu B'Shevat together.
The Second Level: Yessirah (Formation)
We now turn toward inner, spiritual development. The fruit for this world has no outer shell
but has an inner pit that we don't eat. The pit or seed is a means of regrowth. It symbolizes
the earth's reawakening and with it we can cause a transformation of raw materials.
Fruits in this realm of formation include olives, dates, cherries, plums, apricots, etc. and with this cup we focus on the pit of the fruit, which we normally throw away and don't pay
any attention to. We recognize that the pit is a means for re-growth and it is through the pit
that there is fruit and produce for the next generation.
The Third Level: Beriah (Creation)
In the third realm, Creation, the tree has grown into a full being and is blooming. No
protective shells are needed within or without. The fruit of the realm of Creation has no shell or pit, and may be eaten as is. This realm is the realm of intellect. Fruits from this realm include: grapes, figs, apples, citrons, lemons, pears, quinces, and carob.
The Fourth Level: Assilut (Spirituality)
There is no fruit associated with this cup. The world of nobility represents pure spirituality
and it cannot be embodied in anything physical. You may want to have fragrant spices or
fruits to smell. This allows us to be aware of our senses beyond that of test and feeling.
In between each step of tasting and sensing, there are a opportunities to share, interpret, sing and discuss. A seder leader can come prepared with texts, poetry, songs, even pictures or objects, appropriate for each level, according to his or her interpretation.
Be'Ezrat HaShem, this Tu Bishvat, may we all experience a personal regrowth and spiritual connection to Hakadosh Barukh Hu so that we will be zokhim to bring Mashiah ben David beKarov, Amen! Tu biShvat Sameah!!
A collaboration of work from neohasid.org, hillel.org and aish.com
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