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.

File:200px-Fruit tree.jpg
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]

Who's obligated?

  1. Women are also included in the mitzvah of Birchat Ilanot. [3]

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. [4] Nonetheless, in places that the trees bud in Adar one may make the bracha in Adar. [5]
  2. One may make this Bracha even if one already saw a budding tree and didn’t make the Bracha. [6]
  3. One may make this Bracha even on Shabbat, yet it's preferable to make it if one won't miss out on making it. [7]

How many trees?

  1. One should not make the Bracha only on one tree but only for two trees. [8]
  2. It's sufficient to have two trees of the same type but it's preferable to have trees of different types. [9]

References

  1. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:4)
  2. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 19)
  3. ↑ Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 226:2)
  4. ↑ 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. Sh"T Yechava Daat 1:1 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.
  5. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (pg 28), Mishna Brurah 226:1
  6. ↑ Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:5)
  7. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 20)
  8. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 13-5 note 9), Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer 12:20(6)
  9. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (pesach pg 14)
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