Tu biShvat and the Primacy of Eretz Yisrael

          Rabbi Zadok haKohen of Lublin questions the relevance of Tu biShvat outside Israel. The “new year for trees”, [Mishna, Rosh haShana 1:1] after all, relates to the giving of ma’asrot (tithes), which applies only in the Holy Land. Further, Rabbi Zadok specifically asks: what is the point of eating fruit not grown in Israel in celebration of Tu biShvat?

          Finally, Rabbi Zadok quotes the Talmudic discussion (Berachot 20b) of whether the Torah itself obligates woman in the Grace After Meals, or perhaps their obligation is only by Rabbinic decree. Rashi explains the basis of the question thus: the Torah (Deuteronomy 8:10) states “You shall eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord for the good Land He has given you”; since women did not receive a portion of the Land, perhaps the Torah did not require them to bless God for the food they eat. According to this, Rabbi Zadok comments that perhaps the same question should arise concerning Jews living outside Israel. 

          The answer, says Rabbi Zadok, is found in a Talmudic comment in Tractate Ta’anit (10a): “Eretz Yisrael drinks of rain water, and the rest of the world drinks of remnant.” The lands outside the Holy Land receive their rain, as it were, only through the Holy Land. Therefore, the fruits of Hutz l’Aretz, exist only because of the influence of the Holy Land. Hence, it is appropriate to celebrate Tu biShvat even outside Israel and even with fruits not grown in the Holy Land.

          The Gaon of Vilna makes the same point, that the fruit of other lands is blessed incidentally through the blessing of the fruit of the Land of Israel. This, according to the Gaon, is the reason that throughout the world Jews pray for rain based upon the rainy season in the Holy Land. The Gaon goes even further and explains that the blessing for bread “Who brings forth bread from the land”’ refers to the Land of Israel, which is known in the Bible as “the Land”.

          Essentially, commemorating Tu biShvat should remind the Jews of Hutz l’Aretz of the primacy of Eretz Yisrael.