Maggid of Mezeritch
One who properly attaches himself to Hashem can look at an object and see in it nothing other than the Creator of the world.
Ohr Yakar
When one is davening, he should close his eyes from looking at the physicality around him, because when you look at something physical you think about its physicality. Only when you close your eyes can you contemplate the finer, spiritual components of something. The klipos are physical; by closing your eyes you can bypass the outer shell and see the inner dimension.
Kedushas Levi
The songs of praise that we sing to Hashem now are our responses to Hashem’s kindness toward us. By contrast, the songs of praise that we will sing when Moshiach comes will be songs of pure joy, unprompted by any specific act of Divine kindness.
Kedushas Levi
The great joy that the Jewish people had when they sang by the Yam Suf was the joy they had at their very ability to sing to Hashem. The most exalted of angels and heavenly beings have a role in serving Hashem, yet He particularly chose the Jewish people and gave us the mission and ability to serve and sing to Him.
Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk
In order to sweeten harsh judgments, we say Chidushei Torah (novel interpretations of Torah ideas). This creates new heavens, where the decrees do not exist at all. Those harsh judgments that existed in a different place are thus transformed into pure mercy and kindness.
Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk
The Rebbe of Radzimin related that once Rebbe Elimelech told his shamash, “Take a staff and come with me to the forest to strike a slave who has rebelled against his master.” When they entered the forest, the Rebbe turned to his servant and said, “I am the slave who has rebelled. Beat me now and don’t delay!”
Zidichover Rebbe
Rav Yitzchok Isak of Ziditchov, used to distribute fruits to everyone who came to his tish on Tu B’Shevat. One year, there were many supplicants but not enough fruit, and clearly many of the Chassidim were disappointed. He quoted the Gemara (Shabbos 127a) we recite daily: “These are the mitzvos whose fruits a person enjoys in this world, but whose principal remains intact for him in the World to Come…and the study of Torah is equivalent to them all.” The Rebbe concluded, “You want fruits? Go and learn Torah. You will receive an abundance of fruits, while the principal will still remain in your Olam Haba”
Bnei Yissoschor
Tu B’Shevat is the day to daven for a beautiful esrog.
Rav Moshe Rosenshein
Rav Moshe Rosenshein, the mashgiach of Lomza, wrote that “one of the special days when we can all achieve closeness to Hashem through His creations is Tu B’Shevat. [Not just looking] but actually tasting His works, when we contemplate the multiplicity of His glorious creations, we are like the child who receives an apple from his parents and cries out, ‘Thank you, Abba and Ima.’ This is what we can achieve on Tu B’Shevat by eating His fruits and tasting His beneficence and kindness.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 23.