Birchat Ha'ilanot: Difference between revisions

# It is preferable to say the Birchat Ilanot in Nissan. However, if one has not yet made the Bracha before the end of Nissan, it is permissible to make it even after Nissan.<ref> The Gemara [[Brachot]] 43b writes that one who sees the budding of trees in Nissan should make the Birchat Ilanot. Many Rishonim (including the Ritva [[Rosh Hashana]] 11a, Sefer Eshkol pg 68) comment that this Bracha is commonly made in Nissan but does not necessarily have to be made then. This is also the opinion of the Mishna Brurah 226:1 which states that the Bracha may be made in months other than Nissan. Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:1 and Chazon Ovadyah (pg 25) argues that it should be made starting in Nissan (and not Adar to be strict and take into account the opinions of the Halachot Ketanot 2:28 and Chida in Birkei Yosef 226:2) and if one has not yet seen a tree in bloom, one should still say it in Iyar. Birkat Hashem 4: pg. 305 also says that bidieved, one may still recite the beracha on trees that are budding during Iyar.  Sedei Chemed [[Berachot]] 2:1 and Kaf Hachayim 126:1 both rule that one should not say the Bracha before or after Nissan. Nitei Gavriel ([[Pesach]] 6:2) writes that it should be said in Nissan. </ref> Nonetheless, in places that the trees bud in Adar one may make the bracha in Adar.<ref> Chazon Ovadyah (pg 28), Mishna Brurah 226:1, Aruch Hashulchan 226:1. </ref>

# Preferably, one should say Birchat Ilanot the first time one sees a budding tree in Nissan. However, if one did not one may still recite Birchat Ilanot even if one previously saw a budding tree and did not make the Bracha the first time. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (vol 1, 2:5), Chazon Ovadyah ([[Pesach]] pg 24), Nitei Gavriel ([[Pesach]] 6:9)Machatzit Hashekel 226, Shaar Hatziyun 226:3 and Badei Hashulchan 46:18. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:1 and Kaf Hachaim 226:9 state that if one failed to say the Bracha upon seeing it for the first time one may no longer say the Bracha. </ref>

# The Bracha is recited when the tree starts to bloom, meaning carry flowers; leaves are not enough.<ref> Mishna Brurah 226:2 </ref>  

# One may say Birchat Ilanot even on [[Shabbat]], yet it is preferable to make it during the week if it does not result in one missing out on making the Bracha altogether.<ref> Chazon Ovadyah ([[Pesach]] pg 20), Nitei Gavriel ([[Pesach]] 6:9). Kaf Hachayim 226:4 quotes the Moed likol chai that the Bracha should not be said on [[Shabbat]] or [[Yom Tov]] because we are worried that one may come to shake or break a branch. He adds that according to Kabbalah the Bracha should not be said on [[Shabbat]] or [[Yom Tov]]. Ohr Letzion vol. 3 pg. 69 is strict for this opinion. Rav Ovadia Yosef in Yechave Daat 1:2 writes that preferably one should not say it on [[Shabbat]] unless it is the last day of nissan and one still has not yet recited the Bracha. Rabbi Meir Mazuz (Hashem Nisi vol. 2 Halacha 10) agrees  </ref>

# One may say Birchat Ilanot even at night if there is enough light for one to distinguish between trees that are blooming and ones that are not.<ref>Chazon Ovadyah ([[Pesach]] pg 11), Yalkut Yosef Pesach pg. 194, Tzitz Eliezer 12:20(6) </ref>

# In Australia, trees bud in [[Elul]] and Tishrei. One should therefore say [[Birchat Ilanot]] in those months rather than in Nissan.<ref>Nitei Gavriel ([[Pesach]] 6:17) </ref>