Tu B'Shvat: Bnei Yisaschar - The Day Of The Esrog Tree
The Mishna in Rosh HaShana says there are four Rosh HaShanas during the
course of the year. The Rosh HaShana for the trees is on Tu B'Shvat
according to Bais Hillel. Unlike all the other Rosh HaShanas counted in
the Mishna, where it says the plural form of the category that is having
Rosh HaShana (e.g. Kings, Years, Plants, etc.) by Shvat it says the
singular Rosh HaShana for "the tree".
The Bnei Yisaschar says that on Tu B'Shvat although it is Rosh
Hashana for all trees there is one tree that we focus our attention on
this special day. We have a kabala to daven for our esrog for the
upcoming Succos. We daven to Hashem that he should provide us with a
kosher and beautiful esrog. This we see in the Mishna, which also only
mentions that Tu B'Shvat is the Rosh Hashana for "the tree" and not all
the trees.
When you are scrambling for a good esrog next year remember how much
you davened on Tu B'Shvat and you'll know what kind of esrog you'll end
up with.
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