I would like to share some more highlights about Birchas Ilanos, the yearly brocha recited on the newly sprouting trees.
AFTER CHODESH NISSAN
Although the month of Nissan is over, it is not too late to recite the brocha. The Gemara writes that the brocha is recited when someone goes out during Nissan, which sounds like it is referring to the month of Nissan. However, the poskim explain that the expression Nissan is used in referring to the spring season – known as tekufas Nissan, which usually begins in Chodesh Nissan – but the bro- cha can be recited afterwards as well.
This is clear from the fact that the poskim stipulate that the brocha must be recited while only the blossoms are there, and once the fruits start to sprout, it is too late. Since the fruits al- ways sprout after Nissan, it is clear that the end of Nissan is not the cut-off point for reciting the brocha. In fact, as the poskim point out, Nissan is not al- ways the beginning of the spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer has just ended, and the fall is beginning Obviously, in those plaes the brocha wilbe recited Sukkos time, which is the beginning of the spring.
It is interesting to note that the Chasam Sofer, in his glosses to Shul- chan Aruch, quotes his illustrious reb- bi, Rav Nasan Adler, that the Gemara means the first 30 days of spring, known as tekufas Nissan.
The Yismach Moshe writes that there is no question that one should recite the brocha even after Chodesh Nissan. This is because one should al- ways be thanking Hashem, and thank- ing Hashem for the blossoming of the new trees should not have an expiration date.
He suggests another reason for why the Gemara uses the expression “when one goes out during Nissan.” This can be to bring out the point that the brocha is only recited once a year and not af- ter thirty days have elapsed and a per- son sees other trees blossoming. This is different than other similar brochos. For example, in regards to reciting the brocha of she’hecheyanu on new fruits, we can recite the brocha on each fruit. Similarly, if one sees different fascinat- ing sights, such as tall mountains and oceans, after thirty days have elapsed, the brocha can be recited again. How- ever, the Gemara teaches us that this brocha is a once-a-year blessing, in ap- preciation of the new season, and is not to be recited more than once.
The sefer Lihoros Nasan adds that the Gemara mentions Chodesh Nissan because that is usually when the blos- soming of the trees is at its peak, mak- ing it the most preferable time to recite the brocha, if feasible.
However, the Kaf Hachaim quotes the Chida, that al pi Kabbalah, the bro- cha must be recited specifically during Nissan, and if the month of Nissan has passed, one should recite the brocha without using Hashem’s name. But the poskim maintain that one can recite the brocha even af- ter Chodesh Nissan has passed.
CAN THE BROCHA BE RECITED ON SHABBOS?
The Kaf Hachaim writes that one should not recite the brocha on Shab- bos because we are concerned that one might take a branch off the tree. However, the Bitzeil Hachachma writes that the minhag is that people do recite the brocha on Shabbos, and we are not concerned that one will pull off a branch. We find this in regard to the halachic dis- tinction between smelling an esrog that is still on the tree and smelling a hadas branch that is on the tree. One cannot smell an esrog that is still on the tree be- cause there is concern that they will en- joy the aroma and want to eat the esrog, thus necessitating pulling the esrog off the tree. However, when it comes to a hadas, it can be enjoyed while attached to the tree, and there is no concern that one will pull off the branch.
Others suggest that we are con- cerned that one will carry the siddur to recite the brocha. This is similar to the reason that we do not recite tashlich on Shabbos, due to the concern that someone may carry the machzor in a place where there is no eiruv.
IN CONCLUSION
According to most poskim, the bro- cha can still be recited even after the month of Nissan is over, and many al- low reciting it on Shabbos. It is a once-a- year blessing, in appreciation of the new season.
RABBI NACHUM SCHEINER
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