ארץ חיטה, ושערה, וגפו ותאנה ורמון, ארץ זית שמן ודבש

Published January 28, 2010

This pasuk is D’varim 8:8, which presents us with the 7 Species with which the Land of Israel is beautifully described. In honor of TU BiShvat, we will focus on the five fruits among the 7 Species, upon which the bracha of Borei Pri HaEitz is recited. The 5 fruits are prioritized, not by the order in which they occur in the pasuk, but by their position following the word ERETZ - either of the two. Olives rank #1 because they are the first mentioned fruit after the second ERETZ in the pasuk. Dates, called D’VASH in the pasuk, rank second. Grapes are third mentioned after the first ERETZ and are ranked third (except when consumed as wine or grape juice, in which case their bracha is HaGafen and the rise in priority above all fruits. Wine and grape juice follow HaMotzi and Mezonot in priority, except when used for Kiddush, in which case they rise to priority #1. Figs rank 4th among the 5, and pomegranates are 5th. They claim the honor of the bracha only over fruit not among the 7 species. E.g. Figs and dates - the honor of the bracha goes to the dates.

Some less-known (perhaps) Bracha details

Raisins and strawberries and you like strawberries better. You take a straw- berry first, say HaAdama and then a HaEitz on the raisins. Even though raisins are from the 7 Species, that gives then priority over other HaEitz fruits, not when the brachot differ. In this case, CHAVIV (what you like better) goes first.
Grapes on which you will be saying SH’HECHYANU and dates. Which gets the honor of the HaEitz? The dates do - they are second named after the word ERETZ and grapes are third. After eating the date, say שהחיינו on the grapes and enjoy.

One SH’HECHYANU covers all fruits that need one, if they are present when saying the bracha. You can serve a SH’HECHYANU fruit on Friday night and save another one for Shabbat day, if you want - and then another SH’HECHYANU is warranted.
Cranberries are HaAdama. Blueberries are HaEitz.

Minhag to feed birds on Erev Shabbat Shira

HAKARAT HATOV

Feeling and expressing our gratitude for acts of kindness done to us and for help received from others, is an important concept in Judaism. As is repaying those deeds.

The Midrash says that Datan and Aviram spread MN they had from Erev Shabbat around the camp on Friday night so that in the morning they would be able to mock Moshe who had announced that no MN would fall on Shabbat. Birds came early in the morning and ate up the MN.
Additionally, at the Sea, we borrowed the talent of the birds - song - in order to thank G-d for His miracles and salvation.

We repay the birds by feeding them, esp. in the winter when food is scarce.