to bishvat- english edition of the orchard

The tradition  al New Year's tree seder is optional from a strict halachic point of view. However, its celebration has been developing since the 16th century[2]. Abundance and colors characterize the carefully decorated table (white tablecloth and beautiful dishes, fruits of the orchard and vegetable garden, drinks, fragrant plants, flowers). In the place of honor: the seven species mentioned in the eulogy of the Land of Israel, land of wheat, barley, vine, fig, pomegranate, land of olive, oil and date honey[3]. In the family, as well as in the community, this seder is celebrated on the evening of 15 Shevat and/or during the day. There are several ways to celebrate this holiday[4].

• INTRODUCTION

Dedication for the merit of the families who offered the fruits and for the elevation of the souls of their dear ones.

Reminder of the spiritual dimensions of the day. It is the day of "judgment" of the trees. Therefore, we plead for them: their fruits make us want to bless the Creator. The one who recites a blessing brings about an increase in heavenly abundance that manifests itself in the harvests to come. Man is also involved, for it is written כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ עֵ֣ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה "The human being is a tree of the field" (Devarim 20:19). Our Sages state that the celebration of Tu BiChevat contributes to the spiritual repair of the world (tikun). In the middle of winter, the festival of fruits (as it was called in Algiers), reminds us that after winter the beautiful season will come ; that the difficult times have an end; and that the Messiah announced by the Prophets will soon come. This holiday also testifies to our love for Eretz-Israel and our thousand-year-old faith in its rebirth.

Remedies (Segulot) - This day is a time for personal prayers to find a good spouse, to have children, to obtain sustenance, to repent for possible halachic violations of agricultural products, to earn a beautiful citron for the Sukkot lulav...

• INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
  • At each step, first read one of the fifteen psalms of the Chir hama'alot (120 to 134).
  • Responding to the benedictions - The fundamental purpose of this Seder is to pronounce blessings: we consume to bless unlike other days where we bless to have the right to consume. On this day, one could say: "we do not bless to eat, but we eat to bless! We do not repeat a blessing that we have already fulfilled (so as not to pronounce the name of G-d in vain).

At each stage, we respond to the berakhot of others.

• d by the one who pronounces the blessing, one answers Barukh Shu or Barukh Shemo after the name of G-d (Shulchan Arukh, O.'H. 124, 5). This is the custom in North Africa.
• If one is acquitted, there is a discussion among the rulers. Some answer: this is the ancestral custom of the Maghreb and Jerusalem and the Kabbalists reinforce this obligation (R' Zechariah Zermati). It is understood that the one who pronounces the berakhah waits for the answer before continuing; if he does not wait, one does not answer (in order to be acquitted). R' Yehuda 'Ayash says that one should answer, but the one who blesses does not usually wait, so it is better to refrain from answering (Shevet Yehuda). Others rule that one does not answer - Chida, Birek Yosef, 213:3; Mishnah Berura, vol. 1, chap. 124, 5 (21); R' Ovadia Yosef, 'Hazon Ovadia, Berakhot, 208. We shall follow his custom.

• Carefully check for insects before consumption.
• Meal with bread before the seder? Outside of Shabbat, this seder does not include bread according to the majority of halachic authorities. This preserves the unique character of the celebration (since after the motzi over bread, one would be exempt from the shehakol blessing).
• Years when this day corresponds to shabbat - The celebration of Shabbos has priority, as prescribed by the Torah. It begins as usual with kiddush, nitilat yadayim, motsi, meal, birkat hamazone. The afternoon prayer will be scheduled earlier in order to have more time for se'oudat chelichit.
• Mandatory levies and tithes - On food that grows in Eretz Yisrael. See for example the page Terumot and ma'asserot, in Pata'h Eliyahu sidur, Paris, p. 373 (ed. 2007). To intend to do teshuva in case of past violations of the laws concerning the agricultural products of Eretz Yisrael (levies, shmittah).
• The years of shmittah (or the one following them) - Produce grown in Israel must come from stores under Rabbinic supervision. See https://www.torah-box.com/docs-hizouk/tableau-chemita.pdf

• The Seder in 15 STEPS

The seder begins with the singing of the piyut Bar Yochai. The head of the family or a seder participant introduces each step. One person reads the psalm of the stage. The fruit of the stage is blessed and eaten.

*1*  Cakes - Wheat is one of the "seven species of Eretz Yisrael". Psalm 120 is read

Blessing - The guests listen with the intention of being acquitted (or pronounce)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי  Baroukh ata Adona.y (short interruption to allow time for response : «Baroukh hou ouBaroukh chémo») ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי מְזוֹנוֹת

Eloh.énou mélekh ha’olam, boré miné mézonot   "Praise be to You Hashem, our God King of the universe, who creates the different kinds of food’. ("Amen!").

*2* Olive - This is one of the "seven species of Eretz-Israel". Psalm 121 is read

The head of the family, says בָּ֭נֶיךָ כִּשְׁתִלֵ֣י זֵיתִ֑ים סָ֝בִ֗יב לְשֻׁלְחָנֶֽךָ׃ "your sons, like olive plants around your table" (Ps. 128:3).

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הָעֵץ

Barukh ata Adona.y … Eloh.enou melekh ha'olam, bore peri ha 'ets (response "Amen!")

"Praise be to You Hashem, our God King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.

Blessing - The guests listen with the intention of being acquitted (or one of the guests takes an olive and says):

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הָעֵץ

"Praise be to You Hashem, our God King of the universe, who creates the different kinds of food’. "Amen!"

*3* Date - This is one of the "seven species of Eretz-Israel". Psalm 122 is read

One is already acquitted. In steps 3 and 5-12, the ha'ets blessing may be said by a non- acquitted guest.

*4* Wine or grape juice This is one of the "seven kinds of Eretz-Israel". Psalm 123 is read. The wine is blessed (if different wines are to be blessed, some should not be paid).

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הַגֶפֶן - סברי מרנן

"Praise be to You Hashem, our God King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine ».  "Amen!"

This is the only stage in the Sephardic seder dedicated to wine. Different wines (white, light rosé, dark rosé, red, other grape variety, Israeli wine) may be blessed successively by guests who have not yet completed the blessing.

During this seder, it is traditional to pronounce the blessing "hatove vehametive" which underlines the additional benefits that Hashem provides us, source of good (Hatov) bringing only benefits (Hamétiv). This blessing is only recited when all conditions are met (R' Ovadia Yosef, Shu't Yabiya' Omer vol. 9, chap.108). The custom in North African Judaism is to use the Seder of Tu bi-Shevat to pronounce this blessing without any conditions other than those of the Shulhan Arukh: the second wine must be at least as good as the first (Shulchan Arukh, Orach'Haim 175, 2); there must be at least two people drinking (Shul'A, O'H. 175, 4). According to the Rama, the second wine should not be on the table during the berakhah over the first (Sh. 'A, O.'H. 175, 1, Rama).

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הטוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב

Response "Amen!" "Praise be to You Hashem, our God, King of the Universe, who is good and brings nothing but goodness.  Praise for the wife - When offering grapes to one's wife, one says: אֶשְׁתְּךָ֤ ׀ כְּגֶ֥פֶן פֹּֽרִיָּה֮ בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֪י בֵ֫יתֶ֥ךָ "Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house" (Ps. 128, 3).

*5* Fig - This is one of the "seven species of Eretz-Israel". Psalm 124 is read

Blessing: "ha'ets" (by an unpaid guest). Should figs be eaten? There is a discussion among the rulers: some allow after checking for visible insects; others avoid for fear that insects may escape inspection. In this case: step 5 = pomegranate; steps 6-12 = other tree fruit).

*6* Pomegranate - This is one of the "seven species of Eretz-Israel". Psalm 125 reads

After eating the fruits of the seven kinds, one shall follow the order that one wishes for the other fruits of the tree.

*7* Other fruit of the tree - Psalm 126 is read - Fruit of the tree, preferably an etrog  (fruit from the Sukkot lulav bouquet if possible prepared as confit). Segulah for a beautiful etrog an lulav on Sukkot.

*8* Other fruit of the tree - Apple for example - Psalm 127 is read. The verse כְּתַפּ֨וּחַ֙ בַּֽעֲצֵ֣י הַיַּ֔עַר כֵּ֥ן דּוֹדִ֖י בֵּ֣ין הַבָּנִ֑ים בְּצִלּוֹ֙ חִמַּ֣דְתִּי וְיָשַׁ֔בְתִּי וּפִרְי֖וֹ מָת֥וֹק לְחִכִּֽי׃ (Chir hachirim 2, 3) is sung.

*9* Other fruit of the tree - Nuts (or other) - Psalm 128 

The head of the household offers nuts to the girls to remind everyone that the best qualities are within. We sing:

אֶל־גִּנַּ֤ת אֱגוֹז֙ יָרַ֔דְתִּי לִרְא֖וֹת בְּאִבֵּ֣י הַנָּ֑חַל לִרְאוֹת֙ הֲפָֽרְחָ֣ה הַגֶּ֔פֶן הֵנֵ֖צוּ הָֽרִמֹּנִֽים׃ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי נַפְשִׁ֣י שָׂמַ֔תְנִי מַרְכְּב֖וֹת עַמִּ֥י נָדִֽיב׃

(ChirhaChirim 6, 11-12).The nut (Egoz) has the numerical value 17 as the word טוב "good".

The good side of things is sometimes not always visible at first sight. Breaking through the bark, we think that the material world hides the divine presence.

*10* Other fruit of the tree - Almond (or other)- Psalm 129

*11* Other fruit of the tree - Preferably a fruit not eaten in the year- Ps. 130.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶהֶחֱיָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Response "Amen!") "...who made us live and reach this time").

*12* Other fruit of the tree - Carob (pistachio or other)- Psalm 131.

The minhag of Algiers specifies: "We do not forget the carobs". Failing that, a cake containing carob powder may be served.

*13* Product of the earth - Lupine, tomato, peanut (or other) - Ps. 132

Blessing - One of the guests says:

 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְרִי הָאֲדָמָה

(response "Amen!")

"Praise be to You Hashem, our God King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth".

Response "Amen!" The other available fruits of the earth are distributed to the guests.

Those who have not done so say the berakhah: Borei Peri haadama  (together or successively to multiply the responses).

*14* Beer - It represents barley, one of the "seven kinds") - Psalm 133

It is customary to consume beer (a drink fromof the fermentation of barley). Is it necessary to pronounce the berakhah chechakol? There is a discussion on this point among the rulers. One should check his custom or consult his Rav.

Those who do not say the berakhah (R' 'Ovadia Yosef; Ashkenazim) rely on the halacha, the prior blessing on wine exempting the other drinks placed before one.

Those who pronounce the berakhah rely on the North African custom (Rav Zechariah Zermati שליט״א oral communication and Responsa Torat emet, 2008). Some try to follow their custom without coming into conflict with the opposing opinions of other rulers. They use halachic solutions to continue to pronounce chechakol on beer. For example: they only bring the beer at this stage (so it is not acquitted by the wine not being at the table at stage 4); they have a guest who is not acquitted by the blessing on the wine say the berakhah.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שְהַכֹּל נִהְיָה בִדְבָרוֹ

"Praise be to You Hashem, our God King of the universe, who creates everything by His word''. ".«Amen! »

*15* Other fruit of the tree - Orange for example - Psalm 134

After which, we end with a fragrant fruit (choose a fragrant fruit not yet eaten during the seder and intended for the blessing to be said over it).

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי ﭏהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַנּוֹתֵן רֵיחַ טוֹב בַּפֵּירוֹת

"Praise be to You Hashem, our God King of the universe, who gives a good fragrance to the fruits".«Amen! »

* CLOSING

- Kaddich 'al Israel - if there are ten men present.

- Final blessings over the food after consuming the required amount of wine, pastry, any of the following fruits (grapes, pomegranates, figs, olives, dates).

- Blessing of the participants - A Cohen (or the Rabbi) blesses the families who contributed the fruit, as well as all those present and their families.

- Wishes - Before parting, good wishes (health, abundance, parnassa) are expressed. That in the year that begins, Hashem will enable us to reach the four levels of Torah indicated by the word פרדס (Forgiveness/Greening), an acronym for פשת Pchat,רמז Remez, דרש Drach and סוד Sod. May Hashem next year allow us to celebrate this holiday in Jerusalem with the Mashiach! Amen!

 - Group or individual study. In the Torah it is written כִּ֤י הָֽאָדָם֙ עֵ֣ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה "The human being is a tree of the field" (Devarim 20:19); The human being must grow like a trunk (symbol of moral elevation and resistance to the headwinds of history : assimilation, persecutions...). The human being must bring fruits (children studying %Torah, respecting mitzvot; good deeds...). The human being cannot live without roots: attachment to the Torah, to mitzvot and to rabbinic teachings. The human being is made up of invisible roots (past, unconscious), an apparent trunk (man in action) and a foliage tending towards Heaven (reflection, spiritual aspiration). Note also that the education of the child is compared to the care given to trees as R' Shim'on ben Tsemah Dourane (the Rachbats זצוק "ל, Algiers, 14th c.) says: "In the same way that a young plant must be cared for ... so that it grows straight …

- Songs. We end by singing (especially the piyut Yédid Néfèch).                           Hillel Bakis  הלל בן יעקב בקיש

Happy New Year of the trees / Tu biChevat Saméa'h

To extend the study:

- Quiz - Questions & Answers on Tu BiChevat. 22 p., 2016, French, editionsbakish.com/node/1906 by Rav Eliyahou Bakish שליט"א בקיש   אליהו’ר, Mohel. Celebration of weddings - : English Website: https://brit-milah.com/en/. Tel.: 052-7669610. Mail : b0527669610@gmail.com

 - Drachot (French) : Hillel Bakis, Torah et Prophètes à la lumière du PaRDeS: https://editionsbakish.com/etude-avec-hillel/.

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For the elevation of the souls of  אבי מורי Ya’akov ben Yasmina Bakis ז"ל ; אמי מורתי Marceline Messaouda bat Aziza Cohen ז"ל ; Eliyahou ben Fortouna Messaouda Mamou ז"ל ; Suzanne Swira Mamou bat Rika Séror ז"ל ; Ya’akov ben Messaouda Bakis ז"ל ; Moché ben Swira Mamou ז"ל ; Chantal Taïtah Hannah Bakis bat Mézalah ז"ל ; Saoud Benichou ז"ל ben Rahel veMakloufז"ל .

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^[1] Some books by the author - Cursives hébraïques sépharades et orientales (free), 2023, https://editionsbakish.com/fonts. Inventaire des mesures et monnaies de la Bible et du Talmud, 484 p, 2021. Comprendre la haftara, 2017-2020. La voix de Jacob. Commenter la Torah, 2013. Grammaire hébraïque, 2025.  Interpréter la Torah, 2013. On the New Year of Trees:  כתמר יפרח Etudes et Haggadah de Tou BiChevat, 282 pages, 2009 ; Haggadah de Tou BiChevat, 32 p., 2021. The French edition of this publication for the New Year of Trees was validated by Rav Zechariah Zermati שליט״א, Morei Tzedek in Jerusalem in 2008 (5768) (published on his website http://www.toratemet.net/image/users/21292/ftp/my_files/-Hillel-3.pdf, 2008).

[2] Tradition reported in the name of the Ari hakadoch: "On the 15th of Shevat, they [the Sephardim] study in their Yeshivot almost all night. They celebrate the day by tasting all the fruits that can be found in the city. Before and after each kind, they study appropriate passages from the Torah and the Zohar, recite certain prayers and sing hymns" - R' Refael Cohen-Arazi (1988), "Tu-BiChevat", Kountrass, Jerusalem.

[3] אֶ֤רֶץ חִטָּה֙ וּשְׂעֹרָ֔ה וְגֶ֥פֶן וּתְאֵנָ֖ה וְרִמּ֑וֹן אֶֽרֶץ־זֵ֥ית שֶׁ֖מֶן וּדְבָֽשׁ׃ (Dévarim 8, 8).

[4] Customs outlined in our French Books (Katamar yifra’h 2009) and Haggadah of Tu BiChevat, 32 pp. (2021). BibliEurope, Paris.