Birchat Ha'ilanot

From Halachipedia

During the month of Nissan, as spring approaches, we can recite Birkat Ha'ilanot which is special bracha for seeing fruit trees in blossom and can only be made once a year.

A peach tree in blossom

Which trees are fit?

  1. It’s permissible to make a Bracha on a tree that was planted or guarded during Shemitta year. [1]
  2. It's permissible to make a Bracha on a tree that is within 3 years of being planted even though it is considered Orlah. [2]
  3. One should not make the Bracha on a tree which was made from grafting two species, however, there is what to rely on to make the Bracha. [3]
  4. One should only make the Bracha on a fruit tree and not a barren tree. [4]However, if one did make a Bracha on a barren tree one shouldn't make another Bracha upon seeing a free tree.[5]

Who's obligated?

  1. Women are also included in the mitzvah of Birchat Ilanot. [6]

Timing

  1. It's preferable to say the Birchat Hailanot in Nissan, however, if one didn't make the bracha yet, one may make it even after Nissan, and after the fact one may also make the bracha before Nissan. [7] Nonetheless, in places that the trees bud in Adar one may make the bracha in Adar. [8]
  2. One may say Birchat HaIlanot even if one already saw a budding tree and didn’t make the Bracha. [9]
  3. If the tree's bud matured into fruits one may no longer make the Bracha however if some of the fruit begin to grow and some flowers and buds remain one may still say the Bracha. [10]
  4. One may say Birchat HaIlanot even on Shabbat, yet it's preferable to make it during the week if one won't miss out on making it. [11]
  5. One may say Birchat HaIlanot even at night if there's light and one can distinguish trees that are blooming. [12]

Procedure

  1. It's preferable to gather a minyan in order to make the Bracha of Birkat Hailanot. [13]
  2. It's better for one person to say the Bracha out loud and everyone else to say it quietly to themselves. [14]
  3. A blind person can't make Birkat HaIlanot however it's proper to listen to the Shaliach Tzibbur make the Bracha. [15]
  4. One may make the Bracha even if one sees the tree through glasses and even sunglasses.[16]

How many trees?

  1. One should not make the Bracha only on one tree but only for two trees. [17]
  2. It's sufficient to have two trees of the same type but it's preferable to have trees of different types. [18]

References

  1. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:4)
  2. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 19)
  3. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 15)
  4. ↑ Mishna Brurah 226:2
  5. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 13)
  6. ↑ Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 226:2), Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 10)
  7. ↑ The gemara Brachot 43b writes that one who sees the budding of trees in Nissan should make the Brichat Hailanot. Many Rishonim (including Ritva Rosh Hashana 11a, Sefer Eshkol pg 68) comment that this bracha is commonly made in Nissan but doesn't have to be. So rules the Mishna Brurah 226:1 that the bracha may be made in months other than Nissan. Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Sh"t Yechava Daat 1:1 and Chazon Ovadyah (pg 25) argues that it should be made starting in Nissan (and not Adar to be strict for the opinions of the Halachot Ketanot 2:28 and Chida in Birkei Yosef 226:2) and if one didn't see it, one should still say it in Iyar.
  8. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (pg 28), Mishna Brurah 226:1
  9. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:5), Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 24)
  10. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 26-7). This is also implied by Mishna Brurah 226:4.
  11. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 20)
  12. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 11), Tzitz Eliezer 12:20(6)
  13. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 12)
  14. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 12)
  15. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 28)
  16. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 29)
  17. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 13-5 note 9), Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer 12:20(6)
  18. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (pesach pg 14)
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