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  • Shabbat and Holidays
  • Pesach and the Month of Nissan

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Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Adar II 29, 5782
Question
shalom When do I say the bracha for the first time I see a flower blossom this spring, and how many times can I say it? How do I decide which plant to say it on? Is it the same for sephardic tradition? thank you blessings
Answer
ב"ה Shalom The Shulchan Aruch (אורח חיים סי' רכה) is quite straightforward on this issue. The blessing is on fruit trees not on flowers. We bless upon seeing fruit trees which are blossoming but do not bear fruit yet. The blessing is said once a year only, in the Hebrew month of Nissan. ( (Depending upon your geographical location on the globe, the month may vary. See הר צבי או”ח א, קיח, ציץ אליעזר חי"ב סי' כ ,וחזון עובדיה עמ' כ"ה) The custom is to hasten the performance of a Mitzva, therefore many already say the Bracha which appears in the Siddurim, already on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. According to many Poskim, the Bracha is said even on Shabbat, and it is told that is what Rav Shlomo Zalman Oirbach zt"l acted so. (הליכות שלמה חלק א , עמ' לב הערה 10 ) On the other hand, although Rav Ovadiah Yoseph zt"l permits to say the Bracha on Shabbat, since there are Rabbis who have their reservations about saying the Bracha on Shabbat, he suggests that it is best, putting off saying the Bracha to a weekday. (שו"ת יחוה דעת חלק א' סימן ב). This is the custom of many Sephardim. All the best
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