Today is Chamishah Asar B’Shevat, the Rosh Hashanah for fruit trees.
We do not say Tachanun.
It is customary to eat fruit, especially the species with which Eretz Yisrael is praised—grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates—as well as carobs.
Some are accustomed to make a Shehecheyanu on a new fruit.
It is not our custom to recite passages from Tanach, Zohar, and so on when eating the fruits.
Chamishah Asar B’Shevat should be utilized to gather Jews together to increase in all matters of Torah and mitzvos. In particular, gatherings should be arranged for Jewish children (regarding whom the concept of growth—one of today’s themes—is especially emphasized).
Encourage children to fulfill the custom of eating fruits on this day, and explain to them on their level what Chamishah Asar B’Shevat is all about—that one must constantly grow in all matters of Yiddishkeit, and that they should be “trees” that produce good “fruits.”
At the farbrengen of Chamishah Asar B’Shevat, 5731, the Rebbe announced that the time has come to “conquer” the world with the study of Torah. (Likkutei Sichos vol. 6, p. 312)
