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Is there a blessing recited when planting a fruit tree?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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There is no blessing for planting trees. Generally, blessings are recited upon receiving pleasure from something. Planting a tree will bring you pleasure in the future, but does not supply immediate gratification.

Once a year, however, upon seeing a fruit tree that has begun to bud we make a special blessing. This blessing may only be recited during the month of Nissan, and only once a year.1 The blessing is:

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam she-lo chi-sar b'ola-mo k'lum, u'va-ra vo bri-yos to-vos v'ila-nos to-vos ley-ha-nos ba-hem bnei a-dam.

[Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has not made His world lacking in anything and has created its goodly creatures and goodly trees to give pleasure to mankind.]

There is also a special blessing recited when having a first taste of a seasonal fruit (this blessing is recited before the standard "Ha'etz" blessing recited on fruit):

Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam, she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man ha-zeh.

[Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.]

Footnotes

  • 1. Seder Birchas Hanehnin from Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi 13:14. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:1

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RELATED CATEGORIES

Mitzvot » Blessings
Mitzvot » Agriculture Related
Nissan
The first month of the Jewish calendar. This month, which falls out in early spring, is known for the holiday of Passover which starts on the 15th of Nissan.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.