Picture of the Day: 770 Tree Blossoms

Just in time for passers-by to recite the customary blessing for trees before the month of Nissan ends, the iconic tree in the front yard of 770 Eastern Parkway – Chabad World Headquarters – has bloomed with beautiful white flowers, signalling an end to a particularly harsh winter for the residents of the city.

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15 Comments

    • Milhouse

      It does. So what gives, ch.info? Does that tree ever produce edible fruit?

  • Ezra

    I think it’s a honey locust tree, in which case, yes (at least according to Wikipedia) the pods are edible. Not 100% certain of that, though.

  • Ezra

    Having looked at it, I take back my previous guess. (I thought I remembered that it produces pods.)

    I don’t think it’s a cherry tree as Levi said, because those generally have pink blossoms. But I think it may be an apple tree.

    Incidentally, Abba (comment #3) – the berachah is indeed posted on the tree (you can see it in the bottom picture).

  • Y

    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱ-לֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא חִסַּר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת לֵהָנוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם.

    This is the bracha

  • where's the fruit....

    I’ve heard people over the years say you can make a bracha on that tree, but I’ve never seen a fruit on it.
    Just wondering if the bracha was put up by someone in the know? Looks very haphazard and unofficial to me.

  • Facts

    Enough with all the theories and guessing. Thinking it is an apple tree will not change the fact that it is indeed a CHERRY tree, of a species with white blossoms. (Yes, not only have I SEEN the cherries, I actually saved a few pits from them). The pod tree is located further away from the windows of the Rebbe’s office. The only concern, however, is whether to heed the opinion that it is preferable to say the brocho in the presence of at least two fruit trees, a concern that can be put to rest by asking a Rav.

  • halacha

    see ketzos hashulchan who quotes the moreh be’etsba that one can make even if there is only one.

  • Facts

    See The Kaf HaChaim who requires that, at
    a minimum, a person needs to see two
    trees in order to say the blessing, but
    lechatchila (a priori) it is better to go
    to a place that has ribui ilanot (many trees).
    The Alter Rebbe was very careful to avoid a sofek brocho when there is even one opinion among many that the brocho should not be made. Therefore, my suggestion that a Rav be consulted to make sure.

  • this is how it is

    If you saw the tree then you need to say it then. If you want two trees then you need to be careful not to look carefully around the neighborhood flora until you arrive at your two trees.

  • בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱ-לֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא חִסַּר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת לֵ

    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱ-לֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא חִסַּר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת לֵהָנוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם.

    This is the bracha