Two hundred and fifty years later Serach was counted among the descendants of Asher when the land of Israel was apportioned among the families of the shevatim, a clear indication of her longevity. Serach was one of two women who were taken alive to Gan Eden. (The other was Basya bas Pharaoh.)
As to which species of fruit caused the downfall of Adam and Eve and their subsequent ouster from the Garden, the verdict is still out. When the first man and woman discovered their nakedness and in their shame sought desperately to cover up, it was the fig tree that yielded its leaves for the purpose – which is why the fig is considered by some to have been the fruit coveted by Eve.
Others remain fixated on the traditional apple, but most Torah scholars believe the exalted tree, the Eitz Hadaas, that graced the center of Gan Eden grew esrogim. An esrog, after all, is high ranking in the world of fruit; its tree is said to have the same taste as its fruit, and the citron, contrary to the nature of other fruit, blooms on the tree year round. (In many homes esrog compote – cooked with the blessed esrog of Sukkos past – is served at the Tu B’Shevat table.)
The tree first made an appearance by Divine command on the third day of Creation. Close scrutiny reveals that Hashem called into existence the fruit tree, not a tree that bears fruit. “Fruit tree” would indicate the entire tree’s edibility, the bark as well as its fruit. Rashi indeed attributes the tree’s mutation from its original design to be earth’s punishment for Adam’s sin of defying G-d’s command and consuming the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.
Making a bracha over the food we eat elevates the mundane to a spiritual plane and infuses our world with holiness. On Tu B’Shevat we are further mindful of making amends, of being instrumental in bringing about the rectification of man’s first rebellion against G-d.
As we pronounce the blessing and savor the fruit’s heavenly taste, we fete the tree and pray for a successful crop of fruit.
The numerical value of ilan (fruit tree) is 91, the same as that of amen — a root derivative of emunah.
“It is a Tree of Life for those who grasp it…happy are those who draw near” (Mishlei 3:18).
