24 Mar BIRCHAS HA’ILLANOS

The Gemorah in
Berochos states,
“when the month of
Nissin is upon us, one
goes out to recite a
beracha on a tree that
is starting to bud.”
The Shita Mekubetzes
says this beracha was
instituted because it
expresses Hashem’s continuous renewal
of creation. The Aruch Ha’shulcan says
that although some do not recite this
beracha, a G-d fearing person should.
The Obligation
Both men and women are obligated in this
beracha. This beracha is not considered a
mitzvahs asei sh’zman gerama, since it
is not dependent on the month of Nissin
alone, but when the tree begins to bud,
therefore, women are obligated in this
beracha as well. Some say that women
do not have an obligation to actually go
out and find a tree, but if they happen to
pass one, a beracha should be recited.
When Is The Beracha Recited
Many poskim maintain that the beracha

may only be recited during the month of
Nissin, in fact many are careful to recite
the beracha on Rosh Chodesh Nissin.
Others say that based on kabbalistic
reasoning, the beracha should only
be recited during the month of Nissin.
Nonetheless, most poksim maintain that
it may be recited in the month of Iyar
as well. Some say if one sees the tree
budding in Adar it is permissible to recite
the beracha at that time. If one already
recited the birchas ha’illanos in Nissin
etc., and then traveled to a different part
of the country at a time when the trees
begin to bud, no beracha is recited.
At Night
It is permissible to recite the beracha at
night as long as one can see the budding
on the tree. However, if there is not
enough street light then the beracha may
not be recited. If one is traveling in a car,
etc. and sees the budding through the car
window, a beracha may be recited.
On Shabbos Some poskim maintains that
one is not allowed to recite this beracha
on Shabbos. Some say one might come to
pull off a bud of the tree, while others say
that one might carry a siddur. Nonetheless,

virtually all of the
poskim maintain
that this beracha
may be recited on
Shabbos and the
two previously
mentioned concerns
are not applicable.
The Number Of
Trees
Many poskim
maintain that one
should recite the
beracha on two
or more trees,
however, other
poskim maintain
that the beracha
may be recited on one tree. This seems
to be the custom today, since we do not
reside in neighborhoods where a lot of
fruit- trees grow in one area.
In A Field Or In The City
Based on a reading of the Rambam some
poskim are of the opinion that initially
one should recite the beracha in a field
outside of the city. However, if this is
difficult, then the beracha may be recited
in the city itself. Today, the custom is to
recite the beracha on a tree that is in the
city, since we do not live in an area that
has many trees, and there is no obligation
to go to a farm.
The Beracha
The Kaf Ha’chaim quotes a leshem
yichud to be recited before saying the
beracha on the tree. Some pertinent
halachos are; one does not have to hold
the blossom in his hand, the beracha
should be recited loudly, the beracha is
Boruch Ata Hashem etc…. Some say
bolamo daver, while others do not say
this. There is no need for one to remove
his glasses in order to recite the beracha
when seeing the blossom. The nusach
is l’hunos although the Gemorah has a
different nusach. If someone tells you
that there is a tree located in a certain
place, until you actually see it, no beracha
is said.
How Many People
Some poskim maintain that the beracha
should be recited with a minyan of
people, however, the custom is that one
may recite the beracha by himself.
If one Did Not Recite The Beracha The
First Time
Many poskim say if one passes a tree
that is blossoming, and does not recite

the beracha, he may recite it at a second
sighting. While other poskim argue with
this, and maintain that if no beracha was
recited the first time, then the opportunity
to make a beracha the second time was
lost.
What Type Of Tree
The beracha may be recited only on a
fruit tree. One may not recite the beracha
on a tree that does not produce fruit. If
a person unknowingly recited a beracha
on a non- bearing fruit tree, he does not
have to recite another beracha on a fruit
tree. One may not recite a beracha on
branches of a tree that may contain a
blossom.
Leaves/Fruits Of The Tree
One may not recite a beracha on a tree
that only has leaves, and one may not
recite a beracha on a tree whose fruits are
ripe.
A Grafted Tree
A beracha may not be recited on a tree
that has been grafted with another type
of tree. Grafting takes place on many
trees, and one should note that none of
the Birchas Ha’illanos trees is a problem
because of grafting. Many people think

that a nectarine is grafted in a non-
permitted way; however, this is not the

case, therefore, birchas ha’illanos may be
recited on a nectarine tree.
On An Orlah Tree
Some say that a beracha may not be
recited on a tree during its first three
years, which is commonly known as
orlah. In Chutz L’uretz, where orlah is
d’rabbanan, some say one may recite a
beracha on an orlah tree.