היחמה לע and a Fruitful Tu b’Shvat

Rabbi Avraham Dov Auerbach of Avrush served as a Rebbe in the Ukraine during the 1800’s. When he was in his 60’s, he finally fulfilled his life-long dream of moving to Eretz Yisrael. Back in the Ukraine, he had heard all about the beauty of Eretz Yisrael, and how even the stones in the street shine like diamonds. He was so excited to finally arrive at his destination. But when he got to Israel and settled in the city of Tzfat, he didn’t see beauty. All he saw was desolation and hardship. He was so depressed he even considered returning to his hometown of Avrush. He couldn’t understand why he could not tap into the beauty of Eretz Yisrael. Finally, someone explained to him that in order to see the beauty, you need to be worthy of it. Rav Avraham Dov secluded himself for a year, during which time he worked on himself and was eventually able to recognize the kedusha found in every stone of Eretz Yisrael.

Though this story took place 200 years ago, I believe we can all relate to it on some level. We arrive in Israel expecting the kedusha to jump out at us, and it doesn’t. Personally, I remember my first visit to the Kotel and feeling disappointed and let down. Making aliya can be challenging and exhausting and sometimes those feelings get in the way of feeling any sort of spirituality. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t there!!

We will soon see how this story is specifically connected to Tu b’Shvat and the bracha of Al Hamichya.

With the approach of Tu b’Shvat, we will take a break from our analysis of Birchat HaMazon and instead focus this week on the special bracha of Al Hamichya, which we recite numerous times each day after we eat mezonot or any of the shivat haminim (the 7 special fruits which Israel is specifically praised for). In this bracha, we recognize and thank Hashem for all of the sustenance He has given us. We go on to thank Hashem for bringing us into Eretz Yisrael in order that we could eat its fruits.

For the precious, good, and spacious land which You have graciously given as a heritage to our ancestors, in order to eat of its fruit and to be satiated with its goodness.

The Bach (Orach Chaim 208) quotes some opinions that say that we should skip this part of Al hamichya! After all, how can we thank Hashem for bringing us to Eretz Yisrael for something so petty as the fruit – that’s not why we want to be here! Who cares about the fruit? Is there really any difference between an apple in Israel and an apple in America?! The Bach however argues vehemently with these opinions and says as follows -

Eretz Yisrael is imbibed with a special kedusha which stems from the fact that the Shechina (Hashem’s Presence) resides here. The fruit of Israel sucks up this kedusha from the Land. We don’t realize the unique privilege we have to live here in Eretz Yisrael and to eat the fruit of the Land. An apple here is not the same as an American apple and an Israeli orange is not the same as an American one. Not only in taste and size, but in its actual potential for kedusha! The Bach explains that we praise Hashem for this every day because yes, one of the main reasons we want to be here in Israel is to eat the fruit of Eretz Yisrael, because inherent within it is the unique capacity and potential for kedusha.

We, like Rabbi Avraham Dov Auerbach of Avrush, sometimes fail to see the special beauty and kedusha found in something as mundane as an Israeli apple. We might even complain about its size or its taste, and compare it to what we used to have back in America. But this line in Al Hamichya teaches us to think otherwise.

We find a similar message within the holiday of Tu bShvat. The Magen Avraham brings down that there is a special minhag to eat fruit on Tu bshvat. This is based on the Tikun Yissaschar who says we should especially eat the shivat haminim, and other fruits from Eretz Yisrael. The Sefer Pri Etz Hadar brings down that R’ Chaim Vital used to try and eat at least 30 different types of fruits every Tu b’Shvat!

Why? One reason brought down by Rav Kook in Orot HaKodesh is similar to what we discussed earlier. Rav Kook explains that we eat a lot of fruit on Tu bShvat so that we can sanctify the mundane. (רמוחה) שודק. We have the ability on Tu bShvat, and really throughout the year, to bring out the special kedusha inherent in our fruits. When we take a bite, we need to not only take a moment to appreciate the taste, smell, and feel of the fruit, but to also realize that we are eating a fruit that has soaked up the special kedusha of the Land where the Shechina resides.

To conclude, when you buy your Tu b’Shvat fruit this year, don’t search for those dried apricots and banana chips imported from Turkey. Rather, head over to the fresh produce and buy yourself some nice juicy kedusha-filled Jaffa oranges and thank Hashem for bringing you to this Land in order to be able to הבוטמ עבשלו הירפמ לוכאל, imbibing that kedusha in every bite that you take!!