For the Kabbalists Briyah is closest to the pure spirit of the three lower worlds. It is represented by any fruits that are edible throughout. Here no protective shells, neither internal nor external, are needed. These symbolic fruits may be eaten entirely and include: blackberries, blueberries, figs, grapes, kiwis, kumquats, raspberries, star fruit, and strawberries. Like these fruits, the climate crisis can be addressed directly and without hesitation. While climate change can be cause for despair, it also can galvanize us to take the actions we long have kept dormant. May we be blessed this Tu B’Shvat, and throughout the coming year, to become inspired by young climate activists like Greta Thunberg or Isha Clarke,  to listen to the sound advice of scientists and policy experts, and to take audacious actions-—individually and communally—to restore the world God has entrusted to us.

We each choose a fruit from the third category, say the blessing together, and then eat it:

Baruch ata Adonai, eloheinu melech ha olam, borei p’ri ha etz.

Blessed are you Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe,  creator of fruit of the tree.

Now we arrive at the fourth and final level on our journey, the world of spirit. For the Kabbalists, this level of pure spirituality 
is the highest rung on the ladder of creation. Just like with spirituality in general, this concept might be beautiful to some but far too esoteric to others. Our spiritual selves, too, have been through a roller-coaster of ups and downs over this past year.  Some of us have been racked with theological angst about how a loving God could bring about such a catastrophic plague or enable so much hatred and misery. How can we channel the hope and resilience we need to move forward when our reserves feel so depleted?

In this section we will think about our relationship with spirituality.  We are guided by the questions:

Why do we make blessings? What do they do for us? What do they do for God? What does it mean to me to live a spiritual life? What additional tools or resources do I need to access a deeper level of spirituality?


Service Section: Readings & Activities
Source: Hazon 2021 Tu B'Shvat Haggadah