During the month of Nissan when one sees a blossoming fruit tree, we make a blessing thanking G‑d for giving us trees that grow fruit.
11 Comments Posted
Nectarines are not grafted from two different fruits, they are a genetic variant of peaches. Just as some people have straight hair and some have curly, some peaches have fuzzy skin and some don't. We call the ones without fuzzy skin "nectarines." But they are still 100% peaches (genetically speaking). They are not a cross between peaches and plums or any other fruit.
Does this information effect whether a bracha is said over the flowers of a nectarine tree?
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First of all, II want to thank you for your informative posting, I like many others, to quote Wikipedia "erroneously believed [nectarines] to be a crossbreed between peaches and plums, or a 'peach with a plum skin''. This is important information regarding a different Halacha in Brochos. The brocho of Shehecheyanu when eating a new fruit in its season is only said on a "real" fruit and not on a crossbreed. Thus, one would need to say a Shehecheyonu when eating nectarines for the first time in the season. Concerning your question, I see no reason why a Brocho should not be said over the budding flowers of a nectarine tree. Come to think of it, I don't know if for this brocho a distinction is made between a "real" fruit and a crossbreed. I will need to research this matter when I have the opportunity, and when I have a response I will bl"n post it here.
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can a bracha be said on a berry tree ?(not sure exact kind) I think they are edible
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You may recite the blessing over berry trees.
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I am often overwhelmed by the beauty of spring blossoming. The world comes to life again, in a new way. In winter we have the white blossoms of snow, and in spring the myriad colors, and the lime greens, and all the greens of so many, many shades. We feel energized. We feel such love. Beauty and the fragrances of spring, are a heady bouquet.
I love, and I love deeply. And yes, I often have the impulse to hug a tree, and kiss a rose in passing, and I love the velvet whimsy of those little pansy faces.
If I feel love, then whatever I do is fine, in terms of that expression. It's all a blessing, and I don't think we need to differentiate, whether it is a plant that is grafted or not, as long as it is grafted into our hearts, that love, love itself, the passion of that love, is THE blessing above all blessings.
That's where I am, and I know others who feel the same. Life itself is a garden., Tend to it tenderly and it will flourish all the days of your life and that life within you.
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Can the blessing on blossoming of fruit trees be said after you have seen many trees...but were unaware there was a specific blessing. Regardless if I am able to say the blessing, I am blessed seeing the blossoms every year & next year I will say the Blessing!
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if the first time you see the blossoms is in adar - do you say the bracha then- or wait for the first time in nissan?
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Thank you for this heads up. Could you be more specific on what is called blossoming regarding this law; and also are there any requirements as to what type of tree or fruit, Also, does this apply to bushes (like tomatoes) and plants (these days they have bushes that grow tomatoes).Also, are there any things people call (fruits) that don't count." Also, are there any thoughts or lesson we can learn from this; also we only fruit,what about vegetables? (when you think about it ANYTHING that grows is pretty miraculous. Sorry for so many questions
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The Blessing is recited only when the flowers of the tree bloom, not when just the leaves started to grow.
The Blessing should be recited on a tree which grows edible fruits.
While there are a number of opinions as to whether the blessing has to be said specifically in the month of Nissan, Chabad custom as per the Shulchan Aruch Harav in his final ruling (See Seder Birchas Hanenin 13:14 and Shaar Halacha Uminhag vol. 1 p. 220) is to only recite it in the month of nissan.
For some insight on this blessing see The Annual Blessing Over Trees and Hidden Fruit.
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Tomatoes and bushes do not qualify. The trees need to bear fruit that require a bore peri HaEtz.
There should be only blossoms and no fruit starting on the tree. Best said on twqo fruit trees of a different species
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I find it so interesting that so much time is spent on when and what to bless. I would think G_d appreciates any and all blessings. It seems everyone is so afraid of making a "mistake".
We are all "heir" to the beauty that surrounds us and offering up a blessing is never a problem, I truly believe, for what is Divine. But then again, there are people who feel it's so important to make these distinctions. I honestly do not believe this is what is important.
Maybe so many rules are meant to be pondered as to why they make sense, and what gets to be, too much time, pondering instead of praising.
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