The Kabbalistic celebration of Tu b'Shevat that
originated in Zefat, as recorded in Pri Etz Hadar--a 50 page pamphlet
presenting fruits to eat and passages to read, arranged by anonymous student of
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the "Holy Ari" of Tsfat, takes the form of a "seder" (like
on Passover). Certain fruits are eaten in a particular order, accompanied by
specific readings. What follows below is an introductory prayer for the "Seder"
recommended in Pri Etz Hadar.
Please G-d who makes [Asiya], forms [Yetzira],
creates [Beriya], and emanates [Atzilut] supernal worlds according
to their form and design created on the earth below. "You made them all with
wisdom" (Psalms 104). The supernal above and the lower below join in the tent
as one. You have made trees and grasses grow from the earth according to the
supernal patterns and designs, so that human beings can gain chochma and
bina through them, and thus to grasp the hidden. You have set over the
trees and grasses holy angels that cause them to grow and prosper. And you
caused flow and the power of your supernal qualities to pour upon them. "The
fruit yielded a harvest"; (Psalms 107:37) "every fruit tree
producing fruit according to its kind". (Gen. 1:11) "The earth is
satisfied from the fruit of Your work" (Psalms 104:13) so that one
may "eat of its fruit and be satisfied by its bounty" (Jeremiah 2:7).
From every living soul is enlivened from the spiritual power that resides in the
fruit, from the fruit of the mouth of Your holy angels who guard its fruit.
"From me your fruit is found" (Hosea 14:9) the reward of the fruit of
the womb. "Its fruit is food and its leaves a source of healing."
(Ezekiel 47:12)
On this day, the beginning of Your deeds concerning
blossoming and renewal, " a man shall bring his fruit" (Song of Songs
8:11) "producing fruit after its kind."(Gen. 1:11) So will be
fulfilled the days of blossoming for the fruit of the supernal Tree, "the
Tree of Life which is in the middle of the Garden of Eden" (Gen.
2:3) which produces fruit above.
May it be Your Will, Hashem our G-d and G-d of our
forefathers, in the merit of eating the fruit we are now eating and blessing,
while meditating on the secret of their supernal roots upon which they depend,
that You will abundantly bestow on the fruit trees Your grace, blessing, and
favor. May the angels appointed over them also be filled with the powerful flow
of their glory, causing them to sprout and to grow once again, from the
beginning to the end of the year, for good and blessing, for good life and
peace.
Fulfil Your promise given to Malachi, Your seer, "And
I will banish the devourer from among you and he will not destroy the fruit of
your earth and the vine of your field and will not miscarry, says the L-rd of
Hosts." (Malachi 3:11) Look down from Your sacred dwelling place in heaven and bless
this year for good and blessing. "You will make him a source of blessings
forever, you will cause him to rejoice in the joy of Your face." (Psalms
21:7) "And the earth will bestow its harvest and the tree of the field will
yield its fruit." (Lev. 26:4) The blessing of goodness will come upon
them, that its fruits will be blessed within us. Whether much or little
one eats, the health of the body will also be blessed. "There Hashem
commanded blessing, eternal life." (Psalms 133:3) May the glorious majesty
of blessings made when eating these fruits illuminate the source of
blessings–the Righteous one–the life of the worlds, and let the rainbow appear
joyful and proud in its colors. May flow, favor, and compassion be bestowed upon
us to pardon and forgive the iniquities and sins we have committed and sinned.
We violated the Covenant and damaged the fruit of the Righteous, the life of the
worlds, and impeded the flow. We caused the rains of his beneficence to be
withheld, so that their sources were harmed. May things return to their former
strength, as it says "let His bow remain taut." (Gen. 49:24)"For
you G-d, bless the righteous, favor surrounds him like a shield." (Psalms
5:13)
May all the holy sparks that were scattered by us or
by our forefathers, or by Adam who sinned with the fruit of The Tree, now be
collected into the glorious power of the Tree of Life. May all evil be removed
from them from the power of Your Great Name which emerges from the verse, "He
has swallowed riches and shall vomit them up again. " (Job 20:15) May
everything return to its original strength and not be rejected, for only You
G-d gather the outcasts of Israel. (Psalms 147:2). Therefore, quickly
cause to grow the shoot of David, Your servant, and raise up its might through
Your salvation. The hand of G-d is over the whole world.
"Instead of a briar, a cypress will arise; instead of
the nettle, a myrtle will arise. And it will be a testimony for G-d and an
everlasting sign which will never be effaced." (Isaiah 55:13) "Let
abundant grain be in the land to the mountain top, let its fruit tremble like
the Lebanon [cedars], and may the inhabitants of the city flourish like the
grass of the earth." (Psalms 72:6) "Then the trees of the field will
rejoice," (Psalms 96:12) and the tree of the field lift its branch and
produce daily fruit. "And you shall take from the first of the fruit of the
earth." (Deut. 26:2) To bring first fruits before the altar of G-d in praise
and thankfulness to the L-rd, our G-d. And there shall be much good for the
house of Israel. "The wilderness and the arid land will be glad, and the
desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. It will blossom greatly and rejoice
even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the
splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of G-d, the splendor of
our L-rd." (Isaiah 35:1-2).
May this happen soon in our days! Amen!
Do this for the sake of Your Name!
Do this for the sake of Your right hand!
Do this for the sake of Your Torah!
"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my
heart be acceptable before You G-d, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalms 19:15).
"May the pleasantness of the L-rd our G-d be upon us, establish the work of our
hands, the work of our hands establish. "(Psalms 90:17)
[Translated and arranged
(with assistance from Trees, Earth and Torah and A Person is Like a
Tree) for Sefer Etz Chaim Hee, now available as an e-book at a
special introductory price on kabbalaonline-shop.com.]
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