Every time we eat a piece of fruit from a tree, we have an opportunity to pause and appreciate the divine force that flows through all creation and brings this delicious bounty to our lips. We can do this with a spiritual practice of saying a berachah, a blessing, before eating.
The following blessing is traditionally said before eating fruit:
Baruch Atah Adonay Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam, Borei p’ri ha-eitz.
Blessed are You, Eternal (YHWH), Our God, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
If the fruit grows on a bush or in the ground, such as berries (and including bananas, that grow on a tree without a permanent trunk), substitute this ending: Borei p’ri ha-adamah, who creates the fruit of the earth.
The Sages also composed a special blessing for seeing fruit trees in bloom for the first time each spring:
Baruch Atah Adonay Eloheinu Melech Ha-Olam she-lo chisar be-olamo davar, u-vara vo b’riyot tovot ve-lanot tovim, le-hanot ba-hem b’nei adam.
ברוך אתה ה’ אלהינו מלך העולם שלא חסר בעולמו דבר וברא בו בריות טובות ואילנות טובים להנות בהם בני אדם
Blessed are You, Eternal (YHWH), Our God, Ruler of the Universe, who left nothing lacking in your world, and created in it good creatures and good trees for people (“children of Adam”) to enjoy.
The Almond tree is the first fruit tree to bloom each spring in Israel, and it’s name “Shkediya,” relates to a word meaning “vigilant.”
Featured Image: Fruit plate (my culinary speciality), JHD
Here is a guided meditation to eat fruit with more awareness, or return to the Gateway of Trees.
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