Tu be'Shevat in Toldot Avraham Yitzchak, Toldot Aharon

The Toldot Aharon were holding their traditional Tu be'Shevat Seder for the poor. 

Looks like only the men were enjoying the feast and the women were, as usual, only watching from upstairs. 

Chassidic Tu be'Shevat Photos

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Tu be'Shevat in Nadvorna, Permishlan, Kretchnif - Jerusalem, Lelov - USA, Machnovke and Shomrei Emunim:

Chassidut Nadvorna / Bnei Brak

Chassidut Kretchnif in Jerusalem

See all photos HERE !

Tu be'Shevat and Adam HaRishon

Photo: Miriam Woelke

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According to Chassidut Breslov, “The New Year of the Trees - Tu be’Shevat” is the day where Jews have the power to rectify the sin of Adam HaRishon. How ? By showing the proper Kavanah while eating the traditional Tu be’Shevat fruit. Furthermore, by saying all the necessary blessings over the fruit. 

It was Adam HaRishon who mostly influenced the history of the world. Still in Gan Eden (Paradise), Adam and his wife Chava (Eve) were mean to live eternally. Adam’s only G – dgiven task was not to eat from the “Tree of Knowledge – Etz HaDa’at Tov veRah”. He was the only human being formed by G – d Himself whereas all other beings originated from Adam. It is basically unknown how the first human really looked. When I am saying the first human being, I refer to Adam HaRishon, as he was the first one created having a soul. 

Before the sin with the tree (whatever the sin really was), Adam included all souls. Including the highest souls ever which enabled him to live eternally. After the sin, Adam and Eve became mortal, as the highest sould were taken from them. Since the following generations and, with Avraham, the Jews, have the task to rectify Adam’s sin. There are things in this world which can be used in a negative sense but also in a positive sense. Example: Wine. We can get drunk or use wine for holy purposes and thus elevate him. When making Kiddush, for instance. One opinion is that, as soon as we finished rectifying Adam’s sin, Meshiach is going to come. However, there are other opinions too (see Talmud Sanhedrin 97 – 99). 

Tu be’Shevat is the possibility consuming fruit in a proper way and thus make it better than Adam.

Links:

Talmud Chagigah: Adam HaRishon 

Why did G - d create Adam ? 

Why were Adam and Eve kicked out of Paradise (Gan Eden) ?

Tu be'Shevat Photos from Israel

This is actually no Tu be'Shevat feeling but the Chabad House in the old city of Zfat. 

As you recognize the yellow Meshiach flag, you can probably

guess who resides in there. :-)

Copyright / Photos 2011:

Miriam Woelke

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Here are some linkt to previous Tu be'Shevat articles:

Tu be'Shevat Tish in Satmar

Nature Photos Tu be'Shevat 

The Star Fruit and the Apple

Tu be'Shevat and Healing

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Rabbi Naftali Zvi Horowitz of Ropshitz (1760 - 1827) says in his commentary on "Tu be'Shevat": 

"The month of Shevat is like a healing for the trees". 

Here is an intersting lecture on the connection between Tu be'Shevat, Nutrition and Healing: 

Visit Jewish.TV for more Jewish videos.

Checking Fruit on Tu be'Shevat

Dried fruit on the Carmel Markt in Tel Aviv

Photo: Miriam Woelke

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This Tuesday night and Wednesday, the Jewish world is going to celebrate the new year of the trees, the biblical holiday "Tu be'Shevat". Dried and fresh fruit have to be kosher, meaning that we must check many of the fruit we are going to eat. Maggots and worms are the main factors we need to avoid. 

Here is an American / Canadian kosher list for "Tu be'Shevat". The first pages are in Hebrew but page 6, 7 and 8 are in English: 

http://www.jerusalemkoshernews.com/wp-content/uploads/tu-bshvat-yiddish-english-2012.pdf

Going to Jerusalem

Kotel Plaza - In front of the Western Wall

Photo: Miriam Woelke

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Tomorrow, I am going to Jerusalem in order to collect material for some Tu be'Shevat articles. For secular Israelis, Tu be'Shevat is very much connected to the fruit of the Land of Israel as well as with the traditional tree planting. In chassidic circles, however, the Tu be'Shevat Seder is one (if not THE) most important event. 

If anyone can recommend any sources, I would very much appreciate it. Of course, Chabad has lots of material but also further chassidic groups and commentators: The Sefat Emet, the Arizal or the Shem MiShmuel, for example. 

Pre - Tu be'Shevat

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In about three weeks, we are going to celebrate Tu be’Shevat – 15th day in the jewish month of Shevat. A biblical holiday called the "New Year of the trees" (see Talmud Rosh Hashana). 

For a few weeks already, Israeli supermarket chains have been selling dried fruit and nuts for Tu be'Shevat. This evening I took a few photos at a "Shufersal" branch in Tel Aviv:

Every bag containing dried fruits (raisins, apricots, apples, etc.) or nuts for 10 Shekel (approx. 3 Dollar). 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Tu be'Shevat Tish in Satmar

  
Maybe someone can confirm which one of the two Satmarer Rebbes is holding this Tish. My guess is Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, and I hope that I am not wrong. I am saying this because I have once been to Rabbi Aharon's Teitelbaum's Tish in Bnei Brak and, therefore, know how he looks.:-)

Tu be'Shevat in Nadvorna, Belz, Kaliv, Kretchnif and others

Tu be'Shevat photos from different chassidic groups:

http://www.bhol.co.il/article.aspx?id=23716&cat=6&scat=44

Tu be'Shevat Feeling in Zfat (Safed)

This is actually no Tu be'Shevat feeling but the Chabad House in the old city of Zfat. 

As you recognize the yellow Meshiach flag, you can probably

guess who resides in there. :-)

Copyright / Photos:

Miriam Woelke

Rabbi Mordechai Machlis on Tu be'Shevat

Tu be'Shevat in chassidic Dynasties

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How different chassidic Rebbes celebrate Tu be'Shevat - A great video:

http://bhol-forums.co.il/topic.asp?cat_id=4&topic_id=2751261&forum_id=771#

Nature Photos for Tu be'Shevat

At the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee)

The New Year of the trees, Tu be'Shevat, is starting tonight and here are some great nature photos from and around the Kinneret.

At the promenade in Tiberias

 

View onto the northern part at the Kinneret.

The small town of Zfat (Safed) is located on top of the right mountain.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

The Star Fruit and the Apple

 

Starfruit 

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Last year, I heard an inspiring Tu be'Shevat story at the house of Rabbi Mordechai Machlis. Henny Machlis, the Rabbi's wife, had her family visiting from New York and her mother, Mrs. Lustig, told the following story:

An apple tree was standing next to a star fruit tree and because the fruit of the star fruit tree looked so nice and shiny, the apple tree became jealous. It complained to G - d that it wants to grow star fruit as well and no more apples.

On weekends, many people were having trips and found shade under the apple tree. They picked the apples and made jam or apple cake. Everyone enjoyed the apple tree but the tree kept complaining to G - d that it wants to bear star fruit.

Then, one day, an apple fell off the tree and the fruit opened up. This was the first time, the apple tree ever saw it's fruit from the inside. And what did it see ? A star !

At this point, Mrs. Lustig cut an apple and showed us the star pattern around the pits.

The apple tree was growing stars the whole time (inside the apples) and didn't know about it. It just had to come a moment were it discovered it's hidden stars.

The same with human beings. Also we have hidden stars inside of us and we just have to open up in order to discover them.

Enjoy G - d's Creation !

 

Photo: Tapuz

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Rabbi Mordechai Machlis gave an interesting teaching last Shabbat (Erev Tu be'Shevat):

Actually there is a positive commandment to enjoy G - d's creation ! Tasting His fruit, for instance. As we also celebrate on Tu be'Shevat.

What does it mean "enjoying G - d's creation ?"

Of course, each of us has a different kind of understanding of what exactly "pleasure" is. G - d, however, created this world with all kinds of beauties: nature, food, music, etc. Our Mitzvah is to enjoy all this. Otherwise G - d could have created an empty world without any trees, tasty food or drinks. Then we were only doing our Mitzvot and Tikunim (soul rectifications) and that's it. Instead, G - d created a beautiful world and we must enjoy it and thank Him for the creation (as we do with the blessings).

"Pleasure" always means "pleasure within the halachic frame". Enjoying His food doesn't mean that a Jew can run around and eat what he likes. Many people misunderstand the concept but don't realize how much we can enjoy even if we stick to Halacha. Enjoyment also means Judaism and Mitzvot.

Further, "Enjoyment" means that we have to open up and look around in the world. See all the "pleasures" G - d has created for us. Some people like traveling, others love eating. What we should not to is closing ourselves up in our little community and keep separated from anything outside. Should, for instance, a strict chassidic group shut itself into it's backyard in order not to let any "impurity" in ?

Can this "keeping too separate" still be an enjoyment of life ?

Old and new Pictures of Rebbes on Tu be'Shevat

Where do I find myself as a female eating any of those fruit ?

Nowhere because those events (food) are only for MEN !

Look at the fruit masses of the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe !!!

Everything is arranged in detail: The most organized chassidic group BELZ.

Dushinsky: Small but nice. Except for the women who won't speak to outsiders.


See all pictures HERE !

The Star Fruit and the Apple

 

Starfruit 

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The Shabbat meal at Rabbi Mordechai Machlis was packed last night. Mainly with seminary girls and Yeshiva guys. Henny Machlis, the Rabbi's wife, has her family visiting from New York and her mother, Mrs. Lustig, told an incredible Tu be'Shevat story everyone liked.

An apple tree was standing next to a star fruit tree and because the fruit of the star fruit tree looked so nice and shiny, the apple tree became jealous. It complained to G - d that it wants to grow star fruit as well and no more apples.

On weekends, many people were having trips and found shade under the apple tree. They picked the apples and made jam or apple cake. Everyone enjoyed the apple tree but the tree kept complaining to G - d that it wants to bear star fruit.

Then, one day, an apple fell off the tree and the fruit opened up. This was the first time, the apple tree ever saw it's fruit from the inside. And what did it see ? A star !

At this point, Mrs. Lustig cut an apple and showed us the star pattern around the pits.

The apple tree was growing stars the whole time (inside the apples) and didn't know about it. It just had to come a moment were it discovered it's hidden stars.

The same with human beings. Also we have hidden stars inside of us and we just have to open up in order to discover them.

Jerusalem's Mahane Yehudah before Tu be'Shevat

All pictures HERE !

Rabbi Mordechai Machlis on Tu be'Shevat