The blessing of the trees, and the Mikvah attendant

• Author: Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
• Date: 15 March 2021
• Published date: 15 March 2021
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

ברוך אתה ד'… שלא חיסר בעולמו כלום וברא בו בריות טובות ואילנות טובות ליהנות בהם בני אדם

The purpose of the blessing is to thank Hashem for His kindness, for reviving and flowering the trees that stood dry in winter, and now, bloom and grow flowers that eventually will develop into good fruits that humans enjoy.

Our Sages enacted to recite the blessing over trees and not vegetables, because trees are more beautiful. Moreover,

Hashem's loving kindness is more evident in trees, in that they grow fruit without the difficulty of plowing and re-sowing every year.

Furthermore, the basic food for human existence comes from types of grains, legumes and other vegetables; Hashem, in His kindness, added fruit trees for us, to diversify our food with rich and fine flavors.

Therefore, we say in the blessing "Who did not omit anything from His universe" – even things that have no existential need.

Laws of the Blessing

The blessing is on flowering fruit trees. Ideally, the blessing should be recited on seeing at least two trees, but when necessary, one may also recite the blessing on one flowering tree.

Whoever did not have a chance to see the trees in bloom, and saw them after their fruits began to grow, should not recite the blessing over them. However, if their fruits are tiny and barely noticeable, a blessing may still be recited (M.B. 226:4; Peninei Halakha: Brachot 15:8).

If it is known that the tree was grafted in a prohibited way – with two different kinds of fruit – a blessing should not be recited over it, because in the opinion of many of the poskim (Jewish law arbitrators), Hashem should not be praised over a tree in which a sin was committed (Halakhot Ketanot, Vol. 1, 60: 265). In addition, if it is known that the tree is still in the orlah years (3 years after being planted), it is not proper to recite a blessing over it, since it is forbidden to enjoy its fruits (Rabbi Akiva Eiger). However, as long as it is not known for sure that the tree is grafted or orlah, one may recite a blessing over it.

Time of Blessing

The time of blessing depends on the flowering of the trees after the winter, whether before or after the month of Nisan. Regarding our Sages statement that the time of reciting the blessing is during the days of Nisan, this is because in the Land of Israel, trees usually bloom in Nisan.

Indeed, the Kabbalists emphasized the virtue of this blessing, through which great tikkunim (rectifications) are made to the neshamot (souls) who have been re-incarnated in trees, and these tikkunim are made precisely in the...