Tu b'Shevat Spiritual Power: Blessings and Prayers for Renewal and Redemption

Tu b'Shevat is considered a spiritually significant day. The great Chassidic masters taught that on this day, the treasuries of Heaven are opened to pour abundant blessing into the world — in all matters relating to a person’s “fruits,” both spiritual and material. Following are 10 spiritual merits (segulot) associated with Tu b'Shevat:

1. A special day to pray for good offspring — worthy children and grandchildren who are engaged in Torah and mitzvot. (Ataret Yeshuah)

2. The day is auspicious for drawing forth healing and health for all of Israel. (Tiferet Banim)

3. A segulah for barren women — to eat on Tu b'Shevat from the etrog used for the blessings of that year’s Sukkot. (Ahavat Yisrael)

4. It is fitting to recite the special prayer composed by the Ben Ish Chai: “May it be Your will, Hashem our God and God of our fathers, that You bless all types of trees, and that they bring forth their fruits in abundance — rich and good — and that You bless the vineyards so they produce many grapes, rich and good, so that the wine produced from them will be plentiful for all of Your people Israel, enabling them to fulfill the mitzvah of Kiddush and Havdalah on Shabbat and festivals. And may it be fulfilled in us and in all Israel, our brethren, as it is written: ‘Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already approved your deeds.’”

5. A beautiful custom is to give charity on Tu b'Shevat — 91 coins, corresponding to the numerical value (gematria) of the word “ilan” (tree).

6. Some have the custom to eat at least 15 types of fruit, and for each type recite one of the 15 “Shir HaMa’alot” (Songs of Ascents), so that by the end of the meal all 15 are recited. Through the sanctified eating of the fruits, holiness is brought into all fruits of the trees, rectifying our eating so that it is done in holiness.
   (Pri Tzaddik)

7. A segulah for fulfilling the mitzvah of matzah properly on Pesach — to pray on Tu BiShvat to merit kosher and mehudar matzot. (Ohel Yissachar)

8. It is also appropriate to pray to merit a beautiful, kosher, and mehudar etrog for the upcoming Sukkot.

9. Just as the trees renew themselves on this day, so too a person can begin to improve and renew his deeds from this day onward. Even those who have strayed or acted wickedly are given strength to begin anew.
   (Magen David of Tolna)

10. Tu b'Shevat symbolizes the redemption of Israel. Our sages explain that the Jewish people are compared to a tree standing in the winter — bare, frozen, and shaken by strong winds. At first glance, the situation appears hopeless — yet just as on Tu b'Shevat the frozen tree begins to renew itself and its sap starts to rise, the scene parallels the resurrection of the dead: the tree blossoms and produces fruit. So too, Israel — with God’s help, will lift its head and be redeemed speedily in our days. Therefore, this day is especially fitting for prayer for the redemption of Israel.