Tu Bishvat: Powerful Segulot, Prayers, and Spiritual Meaning of the New Year of the Trees

The New Year of the Trees symbolizes the redemption of Israel. The Jewish people are compared to a tree standing bare and frozen in winter, shaken by storms. At first glance, the situation appears hopeless. And then, Tu Bishvat arrives. The sap begins to rise within the tree, and like the resurrection of the dead, the tree comes back to life, blossoms again, and produces fruit. So too, the people of Israel, with God’s help, will lift their heads and merit complete redemption very soon.

Spiritual Practices for Tu Bishvat Night

It is customary among most Jewish communities to set a table filled with fruits of the tree and fruits of the Land, and first to recite Shehecheyanu over a new fruit. Each member of the family blesses a different fruit:

• The man blesses wheat: “He satisfies you with the finest wheat.”

• The woman blesses grapes: “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your home.”

• The son blesses olives: “Your children will be like olive saplings around your table.”

• The daughter is given a pomegranate and a walnut: “All the honor of the king’s daughter is within.”

• Young children are given an apple dipped in honey: “Under the apple tree I awakened you… honey and milk are under your tongue” — with the intention that they grow to love the sweetness of Torah.

The Kabbalists of Safed instituted a full Tu Bishvat seder, which includes Torah study, eating fresh and dried fruits, and drinking wine made from grapes. This seder is considered a source of spiritual blessing.

The Tu Bishvat Seder According to Kabbalah

• Eat 15 different types of fruit, preferably fruits for which the Land of Israel is praised.

• While eating, recite 15 “Songs of Ascents” from Tehillim (chapters 120–134).

• The table is set with bowls of fresh and dried fruits, greenery and flowers, candles in holders, and white and red wine in clear glass containers. Before Mincha, three bowls are arranged at different heights.

The Three Levels of Fruits

• Lowest bowl – “World of Action”: fruits whose inside is eaten and whose peel is discarded (e.g., oranges, nuts, almonds).

• Middle bowl – “World of Formation”: dates, olives, and apples — fruits whose flesh is eaten but whose seed creates new life.

• Top bowl – “World of Creation”: figs, carob, and raisins — fruits eaten entirely.
  (Care should be taken to check for insects.)

The blessing order for Tu Bishvat fruits is: wheat, barley, olives, dates, grapes, figs, and pomegranate.

Additional Customs and Segulot

• A beautiful custom is to give charity on Tu Bishvat — 91 coins, corresponding to the numerical value of the word ilan (tree).

• Some have the custom to send fruit gift baskets to one another.

• Some recite a special prayer composed by Rabbi Yosef Chaim (Ben Ish Chai), asking for blessing upon the trees, abundant fruit, and plentiful wine for mitzvot such as Kiddush and Havdalah.

A Segulah for a Beautiful Etrog

The Ben Ish Chai writes that on Tu Bishvat one should pray to merit a beautiful etrog for Sukkot. This is brought in Sefer Chassidim HaChadash and Yafeh LaLev. After Sukkot, some would preserve the etrog in sugar and serve it at the Tu Bishvat table. Ohel Yissachar writes that one who eats etrog on Tu Bishvat will merit completing the year.

Rabbi Chaim Palaggi writes that Psalms should be recited at the table. The Chidushei HaRim teaches that Torah study on this day opens new springs of understanding, and the author of Eglei Tal testified that every year after Tu Bishvat he felt renewed clarity in Torah insights.

A Time Especially Suited for Marriage and Shalom Bayit

The Bnei Yissaschar explains that Tu Bishvat parallels Tu B’Av. Just as Tu B’Av is a day of love and matchmaking, so too is Tu Bishvat. Tu B’Av falls exactly forty days before the creation of the world (25 Elul), corresponding to the teaching that forty days before conception, a heavenly voice declares a destined match. According to the opinion that the world was created in Nissan, Tu Bishvat marks the fortieth day before creation.

On this day, one can connect to the faith that “there is someone meant for me,” prepared by God even if not yet revealed. This is reflected in the full moon of Tu Bishvat — celebrating potential light that has not yet manifested.

Tu Bishvat is a celebration of hope — the sap rising in the trees, burning away despair, awakening quiet inner hope that survived the cold winter. Even if cold days remain, Tu Bishvat celebrates faith in goodness. With God’s help, that hope will yield sweet fruit.

A Suggested Prayer

“Master of the World, by the merit of this holy day, the New Year of the Trees, and by the blessings and fruits of the Holy Land, grant me — together with all Your people, to build a faithful home in holiness and purity, with joy, peace, love, and friendship, and to merit holy offspring, living and enduring, speedily. And may it be fulfilled in our home: *‘Rejoice greatly, beloved companions, as Your creation rejoiced in Eden.’ Amen.”

A Time for Repentance and Inner Repair

The Pele Yoetz writes that Tu Bishvat is a time designated for repentance and repairing spiritual flaws, drawing blessing upon all of Israel and bringing the Divine Presence to dwell among us.

A Segulah for Abundant Livelihood

The writings of the Arizal teach that through blessings one draws down Divine abundance. The angel appointed over that fruit is filled with blessing so the fruit may grow again. On Tu Bishvat, one should give generously of blessings — especially to children, so that abundance continues to flow to them in a mode of constant growth.

The spiritual principle is: an awakening from below draws down abundance from above. Through blessings, holiness flows into the person and into all worlds.

Bless the fruits you eat — and bless your fruits: your children, so that they are always nourished from God’s abundant hand, with compassion and kindness.

The Song of the Grasses

Sing on Tu Bishvat, and allow flowers of joy to grow within you.

Rabbi Nachman taught: “…If you were worthy to hear the song and praise of the grasses, how every single blade of grass sings to God… how beautiful and pleasant it is to hear their song, and how good it is among them to serve God in awe.” (Sichot HaRan 163)

There is a deep connection between the redemption of man and the redemption of the tree, and song is part of redemption: “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang…”
“Then the trees of the forest will rejoice…”

Just as the grasses sing and bring delight to Heaven, so too when a person praises and thanks God for sustenance and abundance, a spirit of awe, joy, and holiness descends upon them.