The month of Shvat belongs to the Sefira Hod (Counting of the Omer: Hod), and reflects the nature of the the High Priest Aaron, who died on the first of Shvat.
Aaron worked his entire life to reconcile people. Hence he was known as โLoves peace, chaser of peaceโ.
In this month, we try to forge peace between people, within the family, particularly between husband and wife, more than in the other months of the year. During this month, it is important to honor Torah scholars, support those in need and avoid slander.
The holiday of Tu BeShvat, where trees and fruits are blessed, is designed to reinforce the bond between people and nature, and to advance peace and harmony in the world so that Aaronโs actions encouraged closeness and fraternity. This is a prime opportunity to gather and conduct a blessing.
To bless is to recognize that this world is not run by lawlessness, but belongs to God. By thanking G-d for the abundance He gives us, we become partners in creation.
During the Tu Beshvat seder, four trays are prepared, each representing one of the four categories of fruits and four worlds.
The categories are:
1.Fruit with seeds whose peels are inedible.
2.Fruit without seeds whose peels are inedible.
3.Fruit with seeds whose peels are edible.
4.Fruit that can be eaten in their entirety.
Rabbi Sadine indicates that these four categories reflect the four levels of existence:
1.The world of action - of doing, movement.
2.The world of creativity - making something out of something.ย
3.The world of creation - making something out of nothing.
4.The world of nobility - the upper world.
These categories also reflect our various ways of coping with the world and with others. The peel represents the external appearance, the seeds represent the future, while the fruitโs flesh represents the present.
Through this holiday, we celebrate the potential of the tree, and for us this means the ability to transform a bitter seed into sweet, holy fruit.
It is also time to reinforce our belief in G-d and to act with confidence while remaining on the best path and bringing people between people.
The month of Shevat, whose Hebrew acronym stands for Peace, Goodness, Blessing, indicates that peace unifies the good and the blessing.
(From Rabbi Shimeon Guttman and Rabbanit Lea Benacom )
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