Originally posted March 21, 2007.
One of my daughters is currently in Washington, D.C. on her senior trip. Whenever I think of Washington,D. C., I think of its gorgeous cherry blossoms which I have only had the opportunity to see in person once. That would be a great place to say Birkhas HaIlan, the blessing over the trees that is included amongst the mitzvos of Nissan. Last year I wrote Nothing Missing in His World with a few insights on this once a year blessing at Beyond Teshuva.
This is the only blossoming tree I have in my Israel collection from last year’s trip.
Here’s an amazing post at Heichal HaNegina on Birhas HaIlan and The Pittsburgher Rebbe’s famous niggun “Ilan, Ilan”.
Beautiful picture. Your title reminded me that when I was actually in Brooklyn last week — in Boro Park — I saw a tree with a sign on it. The sign had the text to the bracha to say on flowering fruit trees, though, for some reason, there was tape over Hashem’s name that could still be read through the tape.
TY, Ariella. I’ve seen those signs, there is actually a booklet that goes around telling you where you can find a fruit bearing tree in your neighborhood. Anyone know where you can get that?
Interesting. I’ve never realized that cherry blossoms are common outside Japan, too.