Dates תמר-

The Pasuk says: “… Eretz Zeit Shemen U’Dvash”, which means: Land that full of olive oil and honey. The type of honey meant here is date honey, not bee honey.

צדיק כתמר

צדיק כתמר יפרח

צדיק כתמר יפרח

כארז בלבנון ישגה X3

ישגה.

Why do we celebrate the Tree’s Birthday?

Farmers who grow produce in Eretz Israel have special Mitzvot to do with produce of each year’s crop to give to a Cohen. Tu B’Shvat is the date that ends one year’s season and begins the next year’s produce.  

Wheat  -חיטה

Wheat is our most basic food, the most common symbol of eating. For thousands and thousands of years, wheat was a main produce in Israel.

Now is the time to taste one of the delicious products of the common wheat, take a cookie
 and don’t forget to say the Beracha:

"ברוך אתה ה', אלוקינו מלך העולם בורא מיני מזונות"

שבעת המינים

The Seven species

Eretz Israel is blessed with seven kind of special fruits which are:

Wheat, Barley, Grapes, Figs, Pomegranates, Olives and Dates.

"ארץ חיטה ושעורה וגפן ותאנה ורימון ארץ זית שמן ודבש".
 (דברים ח, ח)

In this Seder Tu B’Shvat we will taste the

 שבעת המינים and learn about their importance.

Barley  שעורה - –

Riddle- what drink is made out of barley, but
 you can’t drink it because you are under age?

השקדיה פורחת

ושמש פז זורחת

ציפורים מראש כל גג

מבשרות את בא החג

ט"ו בשבט הגיע, חג לאילנות

ט"ו בשבט הגיע חג לאילנות

Vine  גפן -

The grapevine is very special in the Judaism; we use it for wine on Shabbat, Holidays and other special days (like wedding, Bar & Bat Mitzvah).  

And now, because of ט"ו בשבט, we should drink wine… in our case - Grape juice…

"ברוך אתה ה, אלוקינו מלך העולם, בורא פרי הגפן"

Fig -תאנה –

“Why is Torah compared to a fig? Every fruit has something bad in it: dates have pits, grapes have seeds, pomegranates have skin, but every part of the fig is good to eat, just like the Torah that is completely good.”

Pomegranate רימון -

The pomegranate is filled with 613 seeds, which represent the 613 Mitzvot.

Don’t count the seeds now…!

olive זית -

The symbol of Israel shows a menorah surrounded by an olive branch on each side, and the writing "ישראל" (Israel) below it.

The menorah has been a symbol of Judaism for almost 3000 years. It was used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The olive branches symbolize peace.

ובעזרת ה' יבוא שלום עלינו ועל כל ישראל במהרה בימינו