Seder Tu B'Shevat

The first ever published seder for Tu biShvat — Pri Ets Hadar (The Fruit of the Majestic Tree) — can be found in a kabbalistic text, first published as a pamphlet in Venice in 1728. (See Friedberg, Beyt ‘Eqed Sefarim, vol. 3, p.851, no.777.) Written by an unknown author, Pri Ets Hadar was included in the Sefer Ḥemdat Yamim by R’ Yisrael Yakov Ben Yom Tov Algazi (1680-1756) (the Rosh Yeshiva of Beit El in Yerushalayim).

Sap is Rising Prayer

Kohenet Annie Matan, 2007

Oh Shechinah,
Goddess of healing
root of my wisdom
As this dark winter turns to spring
help me to feel your sap
flow through me
filled with nourishment and warmth
and the grounding force of the earth.

Mother,
may I feel your arms around me each day
as a comfort
holding me
coaxing the tears and anger
from inside me
until I am fresh and new
laid open to my own eyes.
Be my mirror
so that I may see
the good and power inside me
so that I may see myself
as you see me.

Amen.

The Seder (Order)

Source: Hazon Tu B'Shevat Haggadah

The First World: Olam Ha'Aasiyah (Action)

The first stage of the Seder is the world of physicality, groundedness, day-to-day activity. It corresponds to the element of Earth and the season of Winter. During the winter, the frozen earth is covered with snow, concealing and protecting it from the harsh chilly winds. We too, cover our bodies with warm layers, shielding ourselves from the bitter cold.

This stage is about nurturing and protecting the physical and the internal, concealing parts of ourselves with tenderness and care to protect ourselves from the harshness and bitterness outside. This for the times when the closet is necessary, providing us with warmth and safety. We must protect ourselves and each other from harshness, cruelty, and neglect. We must never out one another, or even ourselves, when it is unsafe to do so.

Our first cup of wine or juice is pure white, like the winter snow. We see clearly through it, as we can see clearly through the leafless branches. But the branches and the trees in wintertime are not lifeless. They already have buds, formed in the fall, and ready to grow in the coming spring. They hold within their stillness and paleness, sparks of light, the potential for so much life and bright colour.

We each fill our glasses with white wine or juice, say the blessing together, and then drink half of the wine or juice:

This first fruit has a hard, protective shell on the outside, and a soft, fleshy and vulnerable inside. As we eat the fruit of the physical world of action and protection, may we feel comfort and security in our bodies, in the ways we care for ourselves, and in our gender and sexual identities. May we be blessed with the strength and courage to wait out the winter, and to seek resources and environments where we may reveal our true selves.

We say the blessings and then eat a fruit with a hard outside and a soft inside: almond, banana, orange, persimmon, pineapple, pistachio, pomegranate, or walnut.

Walnuts

Rabbi Tarfon likened the people of Israel to a pile of walnuts. If one walnut is removed, each and every walnut in the pile will be shaken. When a single Jew is shaken, every other Jew is shaken and affected. (Avot D’Rabbi Natan) Likewise, when a single species is endangered, the entire ecosystem is shaken and affected.

Pomegranates

In the Song of Songs (Shir haShirim) we read: "Come my beloved, … let us see…if the pomegranates are in bloom." The Rabbis comment: "These are the children who are busy learning the Torah; they sit in rows like pomegranate seeds." Thus the gleaming red pomegranate seeds remind us that we, too, must be attentive to study Torah, and learn how we must care for our world.

The Second World - Olam HaYetzirah (Formation)

The second world is the emotional world of formation, creativity, the season of Spring. We add red - the colour of fire, and also of blood - to symbolize the beginning of the growth of life. Colours are deepening and we begin to remove our layers of protection, allowing ourselves to feel the warmth of the spring sunshine.

It is scary to be vulnerable, to come out and reveal our identities. We don't know who will accept us or what we will grow into. The element of this world is water, the necessary ingredient for all life. Water is eternally transforming, changing it's state to adapt to it's environment, while simultaneously changing the very landforms over which it flows. Sometimes we feel we must change ourselves to fit into a homophobic and hostile society, and yet, at the same time, we will slowly and surely transform this society with our creativity, colour, and warmth.

We add red wine to the white wine that is already in our cups, so that the cup is again full, say the blessing together, and then again drink only half of the wine in the cup.

As we eat the fruit of Y’tzirah, may we feel the warmth of the Spring as we remove our protective layers. May we learn to transform using creativity, care, and love.

We say the blessings and then eat a fruit with a soft outside and hard inside: apricot, avocado, cherry, date, mango, nectarine, olive, peach or plum.

Olives

The olive tree is a sign of hope that, despite the enormity of destruction, life can be restored. When the great flood began to subside, Noah sent out a dove. "The dove came back to him toward evening, and there in its bill was a leaf it had picked from an olive tree." (Genesis 8:11)

Dates

Tzadik katamar yifrach
K’erez bal’vanon yisgeh
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

The Hidden Life of Trees

by Peter Wohlleben

But why are trees such social beings? Why do they share food with their own species and sometimes even go so far as to nourish their competitors? The reasons are the same as for human communities: there are advantages to working together. A tree is not a forest. On its own, a tree cannot establish a consistent local climate. It is at the mercy of the wind and weather. But together, many trees create an ecosystem that moderates extremes of heat and cold, stores a great deal of water, and generates a great deal of humidity. And in this protected environment, trees can live to be very old. To get to this point, the community must remain intact no matter what. If every tree were looking out only for itself, then quite a few of them would never reach old age. [...]

Every tree, therefore, is valuable to the community and worth keeping around for as long as possible. And that is why sick individuals are supported and nourished until they recover. Next time, perhaps it will be the other way round, and the supporting tree might be the one in need of assistance. When thick silver-gray beeches behave like this, they remind me of a herd of elephants. Like the herd, they, too, look after their own, and they help their sick and weak back up onto their feet.

The Third World: Olam HaBriyah (Creation)

The third stage is the thinking world of Creation, corresponding with Summer. We have made it to the fullness and lushness of this season. This is a time of abundant harvest and openness. The trees are firmly rooted, and blooming beautifully.

In this sturdy environment, we are free to be fully out as ourselves, openly proud of our vibrant colours. Our outside expression reflects our true thoughts. The element of this stage is Air, and we can now breathe freely. May we all experience opportunities to let down our guards, precious relationships in which we can be fully ourselves.

We add more red wine so that our cups are once again full. We say the blessing together, and then drink almost the entire cup, so that only a drop is left.

As we eat the fruit of B’riyah, the world of thoughts and creation, may we find that there is harmony between our thoughts and our actions, between ourselves and the worlds we inhabit.

We say the blessings and then eat a fruit with a soft inside and soft outside: blackberry, blueberry, carob, fig, grape, kiwi, raspberry, or strawberry.

Carob

A Talmudic story is told about Honi, who saw an old man planting a carob tree. His grandchild was helping him. Honi laughed. "Foolish man", he said, "do you think you will still be alive to eat the fruit of this tree?"

The old man replied, "I found trees in the world when I was born. My grandparents planted them for me. So, too, I am planting for my grandchildren."

The Fourth World: Olam Ha'Atzilut (Spirit)

The last stage is the world of Spirit, mysterious and deep, corresponding with the element of Fire. This represents the full bloom of Autumn, in its glorious wholeness and fiery colours.

As the seasons change, so do we. We started this evening by protecting our softness, and slowly peeling away our hard protective shells. We uncovered our colours, revealing rich hues, growth, and creativity. We eventually came to a place where there the internal and external are equally soft, delicious, and colourful. Here there is no distinction between the protected and the protectors, there is no need for hierarchical or harmful gender roles in this world.

May we find ourselves in supportive and caring communities, where all of our elements and colours are celebrated. Like the trees, may we learn from and care for our elders, our children, our vulnerable ones, and our strong ones. And as we know, autumn will fade into winter, and the cold will come again, so may we nourish ourselves with resilience and warmth.

As we drink the fourth cup of pure red wine or juice, may we become strong, like healthy trees, with solid roots in the ground and our arms open to the love and warmth around us.

We fill our cups once again with red wine, adding to the small drop at the bottom that still contains some white, say the blessing together and then drink the entire glass.

L’Shana tova uv’racha p’ri ut’nuvah

May the year be fruitful and blessed!

L’shana haba’a bi-Y’rushalayim hab’nuya

Next year in Jerusalem rebuilt!