The Kiddush & Farbrengen this Shabbos in sponsored by Mordechai Korolitsky in honor of the Yorzeit of his father A”H and by Nachman Hershkowitz in honor of the Yorzeit of his Mother O”H.

B”H there were two Yud Shevat Farbrengens in our shul this past week. One for Women and one for Men. IY”H we plan on having these on a regular basis.

Good Shabbos.

Tu B’Shevat Customs

• It is customary to increase in the amount of fruits one eats on the 15th of Shevat, in order to praise G-d who created all these species of fruits.
• In particular, one should include among the fruits one eats on this day the species of fruit which the land of Israel is praised for: grapes, olives, dates, figs and pomegranates. If one eats a sufficient amount of fruits of these fruits, one recites the special after blessing Al Ha’aretz ve’al HaPeorot.
• One should make an effort to eat at least one fruit which one has not eaten that entire season, and would require the blessing of Shehecheyanu. When eating such a fruit, the Shehecheyanu should be said prior to reciting the blessing of “Haetz.”.
• Many also have a custom of eating carob on this day.2. There is yet another custom which many have and that is to eat the Etrog, either in the form of preserves, sugared slices, etc.3
• It was the custom of the famed Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria (“Arizal”) to eat 15 varieties of fruits on the 15th of Shevat.
• On this day Tachnun is omitted from the Shacharit and Mincha (morning and afternoon) prayers as well as from the Mincha prayer on the afternoon beforehand.

Candle Lighting   4:46 PM
Friday Mincha     4:56 PM
Kabolas Shabbos 5:31 PM
Shabbos Mincha  4:45 PM
Shabbos Ends      5:49 PM