Birkat Hailanot

Birkat HaIlanot 5770

The following bracha is said only once a year, during the month of Nissan, on fruit trees in blossom. It is not said on flowering trees that do not bear fruit. It is not said on fruit trees that already have fruit; only on fruit trees when they display the flower blossoms that precede their fruit. It is preferable to say the bracha on at least two trees. The bracha should be said with a sense of awe, appreciation, admiration, and joy of HaShem and the world He created
for us. We specifically acknowledge Him in the presence of fruit trees which delight our senses with their floral displays, even before they provide us with their tasty fruit.
We realize that this is an extra-special gift from G-d to us. (see pdf file for the brachot)

The Gemara and a poet speak of trees…
The Talmud (Taanit 5b) asks: How does one bless a great person? To what does this compare? To a man walking in the desert, hungry, tired, and thirsty. Suddenly, he finds a tree with delicious fruit, pleasant shade, a cool spring running alongside it. He eats and drinks, and rests. When he is ready to leave, he asks, Tree, k O’ tree, how shall I bless you? That you shall produce sweet fruit? You already do. That you shall provide good shade? You already do. That there should be a cool stream by your side? There already is. Rather, may it be so that all cuttings planted from you shall become just like you. So it is with a great person. That he shall have Torah? He does. Wealth? He does. Children? He does. Rather that your descendants shall be like you.

“ברוך אתה ה’, אלקינו מלך העולם, שלא חיסר בעולמו כלום, וברא בו בריות טובות ואילנות טובות ונאות , כדי להנות בהן בני אדם”.

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks to God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

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