YOELI: “Hey Yossi!
YOSSI: “Uhu, chruncha munch chrunch.”
YOELI: “What are you eating now?”
YOSSI: “An app-(munch, munch) an apple! You know, you mentioned how heilig the fruits of Eretz Yisrael are… I’m on a fruit-only diet now!”
YOELI: “Ha! I’d love to see that! You know it’s not only fruits, but all food grown in Eretz Yisrael that have special kedushah. The Chasam Sofer says that everyone knows Eretz Yisrael is “זבת חלב ודבש,” it flows with milk and honey. Milk and honey also refers (in Shir Hashirim) to the sweet flavor of the Torah! The Chasam Sofer says that the fruits of Eretz Yisrael are not only delicious but also help a Jew learn Torah and connect to Hashem!
YOSSI: “Hey wait… “זבת חלב ודבש” ends with the letters ש,ב,ת…Shabbos!”
YOELI: “Yup! Just like Shabbos foods-”
YOSSI: “MMMMMmmmm! Like cholent and gala and herring and gefilte…”
YOELI: “Yes, just like Shabbos foods have special kedusha, so too the fruits of Eretz Yisrael have special kedushah, and are very holy! On Tu BiShvat, there is a holy minhag to eat fruits of Eretz Yisrael. Even if we can’t get fruits from Eretz Yisrael, some eat all of the shivas haminim, etc.!
YOSSI: “YUM!l I caaaaaan’t wait! Join us next week everybody!
YOELI: “Yup, and we’ll see if Yossi’s fruit diet is still going!”
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 23.