Originally Tu B'Shevat marked the date for calculating the tithes of the harvest (ma'aserot) that families would pledge to the priests of Israel. After the destruction of the Second Temple, however, it was no longer possible to offer agricultural tithes, and among Diaspora Jews it became customary to commemorate this time by eating "the Seven Species" (i.e., shivat ha-minim:שִׁיבַת הַמִּינִים), that is, the seven types of grains and fruits listed in the Torah as being special products of the Land of Israel (Deut. 8:8). These seven types of produce include wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. Later still, in the 16th century, Rabbi Isaac Luria of Tzefat developed a Passover-like Seder featuring wine and the "seven species" of the Land of Israel to commemorate the holiday of Tu B'Shevat.
Like other Jewish holidays, Tu B'Shevat begins 18 minutes before sunset, that is, just before the start of Shevat 15. When Tu B'Shevat falls on the Sabbath, however, the seder is performed as part of the Sabbath meal, that is, after welcoming the Sabbath.
What You'll Need...
To perform your own Tu B'Shevat home ceremony/seder, you'll need the following:
Cups or wine goblets (one for each person). Ideally these cups should be made out of clear glass (so everyone can see the color of the juice).
A carafe of white grape juice.
A carafe of red grape juice.
Yom Tov candles (to light before the holiday, unless it is Shabbat).
Various fruits. You'll need both "single seed" fruits (such as dates, olives, plums, cherries, almonds, etc.) and "multi-seed" fruits (such as pomegranates, strawberries, grapes, oranges, apples, figs, etc.).
Two holiday plates that will hold the fruits. On one plate arrange the single seed fruits, and on the other plate arrange the multi-seed fruits.
A bowl of graham cracker crumbs.
Some chocolate syrup or honey in a dish.
Some almonds (the almond tree, known as the "resurrection tree," is the first tree to blossom in Israel every year.)
Some wheat and some barely crackers (part of the shivat ha-minim).
Additional spoons, toothpicks (for the fruit), and plates.
(Optional) A white carnation in a vase or glass of water. At the beginning of the seder, add several drops of red food coloring to the water. By the end of the seder, the carnation will change from white to red!
Seder Overview
Four cups of wine (or grape juice) are used to symbolize the different agricultural seasons of the year. Each cup will be made a different color based on the mixture of white and red juices, symbolically depicting the changing seasons and colors of the year: from wintery white to a touch of spring red, from rosy summer to the full redness of autumn.
Various fruits and grains are sampled as an opportunity to thank God for the gift of sustaining our lives, especially as given in the shivat haminim. Note that the following seder is just one of many possible approaches to the occasion.
Basic Seder Procedures
Lighting the Yom Tov Candles We begin by lighting the holiday candles (18 minutes before sunset) and reciting the Yom Tov blessing at this time (unless it is Shabbat, in which case we light the Sabbath candles instead).
Pouring the First Cup (Kiddush) We fill our cups with white grape juice. This first cup represents winter, and the Hebrew blessing (hagafen) is recited over the poured cup. We drink from the First Cup at this time.
Eating Fruit of the Trees The first plate of fruit (i.e., the one holding fruits with one large pit or seed) is then passed around the table and the Hebrew blessing over fruit trees is recited (borei pri ha'etz). Everyone then eats some of the fruits and almonds.
Reciting Shehecheyanu Since this marks the first taste of fruit for the new year of trees, the Shehecheyanu blessing is also recited at this time.
Eating Fruit of the Earth After this, the second plate of fruit (i.e., the one holding fruits with many seeds) is passed around the table and the Hebrew blessing (ha'adamah) is recited. Again, everyone samples some of these fruits. In addition, we taste some wheat and barely crackers at this time.
Drinking the Second Cup A few drops of red juice are added to the cups of white juice and the change in color is observed. This is meant to symbolize both the changes of the season and to remind us that from small seeds large things can begin come (Matt. 13:31-32). We recite the Hebrew blessing (hagafen) again and then drink from the second cup of juice.
"Planting Seeds" Because it represents the New Year for Trees (Rosh Hashanah L'ilanot), we pass around a bowl of graham cracker crumbs (symbolizing dirt) and "plant" symbolic seeds (e.g., almonds, raisins) using a spoon. Others at the table "water" the seeds using chocolate syrup or honey. This is done to remind ourselves of the importance of planting good seed in our lives and to water the seeds of others (see Psalm 126:5-6; Matt. 13:23, Matt. 20:1-16, Mark 4:26-29, 1 Cor. 3:8-9). Everyone then partakes of some of this "desert."
Giving a D'var Torah During the Tu B'Shevat seder we recall the various parables involving agricultural growth and fertility in Yeshua's teaching. For example, Yeshua taught: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24). The death of the outer shell of the seed leads to the growth of seed into new life: "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and put in his own garden. It grew, and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky lodged in its branches" (Luke 13:18-19).
The process of such growth is ultimately mysterious and divine: "The Kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he doesn't know how. For the earth bears fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has come" (Mark 4:26-29).
Yeshua likened His relationship with His us in terms using the metaphor of the vine and the branches: "I am the true Vine (הַגֶּפֶן הָאֲמִתִּית), and you are the branches" (John 15:1-5). We derive our identity, life and strength from being made part of His life...
You might want to discuss the meaning of these various parables at this time and discuss the "fruit of the Spirit" in your life. As the Living Torah, we recognize that Yeshua is the Tree of Life (עֵץ־חַיִּים) for all who will cling to Him (Prov. 3:18).
Drinking the Third Cup We add some more red juice to our cups to create a rosy blend of about half white and half red grape juice. This again symbolizes the passing of the seasons and reminds us of the need to share our lives with one another. We recite the Hebrew blessing (hagafen) again and then drink the third cup.
Drinking the Fourth Cup The last cup is then filled entirely with red juice. This cup is said to symbolize the fulness of life and God's blessing. As we contemplate the changing seasons, the increase of color, the deepening hues, we remember the sacrificial blood of Yeshua that was shed so that we can live fruitful lives before the Father... We recite the Hebrew blessing (hagafen) again and then drink from the cup.
Offering a Closing Prayer We close our Tu B'Shevat Seder by asking God to help us to grow and be productive in the coming days. We ask for the fruit of the Holy Spirit (פְּרִי הָרוּחַ) to be manifest in our lives, and we especially appeal to the LORD to equip us to be co-laborers with Him in the great vineyard of the world...
Reciting the Closing Blessing The priestly blessing is found in Numbers 6:23-27. Traditionally, the priests blessed the people every morning after the sacrifice at the Temple. Today, many people recite this blessing as a benediction for special occasions.
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."
Addendum:
The Fruit of Spirit - פְּרִי הָרוּחַ
[ You might wish to incorporate discussions about the promised "fruit of the Spirit" into your own Tu B'Shevat Seder, chaverim. ]
Traditional Judaism identifies various middot ha-lev (qualities of heart) that attend to a genuinely Jewish life. These include Talmud Torah (studying Scripture), ahavat Adonai (loving God), gemilut chasidim (doing works of righteousness), bikkur cholim (visiting the sick), and so on.
The follower of Yeshua likewise must evidence middot hav-lev, though the Source for such comes directly from the power of the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) working within the heart of faith. The priot (fruits) listed in Galatians 5:22-23 represent nine visible attributes of a true follower of Yeshua:
Note that these priot are not obtained through self-effort or various attempts at human "reformation," but rather are a supernatural outgrowth of the grace and love of God in the life of one who puts their trust in Yeshua as Mashiach. SeeJohn 15:1-8. Our lives are sanctified in the manner in which they were initially justified: wholly by faith in the love and grace of God...
The tough question we need to ask ourselves is whether our lives give evidence to the power and agency of the Holy Spirit within us. Strictly speaking, these nine attributes are qualities that only God Himself possesses, since He alone is perfectly loving, perfectly joyful, and so on. But since we are created btzelem elohim (in the image of God) and were given the Holy Spirit to help us resemble our Teacher (Luke 6:40), spiritual fruit should be seen in our own lives (John 14:12; 15:1-8; 26-7). Obtaining such fruit is invariably a matter of faith - trusting that God will help us live our lives in truthful union with Him.
Let's remember to pray for one another and ask the LORD to make each of us fruitful l'shem shamayim - for the sake of the Name of our beloved One.
