Q. Can you make birchat hailonot by the light of the moon, if you can see the trees clearly? Can you make the bracha if you see them through a window or the windshield of a car?
A. On question 1716 regarding the blessing for the new fruits on the trees at night, when there is light, we wrote: "Although Horav T. P, Frank zt”ťl (quoted in Yain Hatov 1: 48) rules that birchas hailonos should not be recited at night, many Poskim permit when needed and there is enough light to see clearly the budding in the fruit trees. (Tzitz Eliezer O.H. 1: 118 – 12: 20, Porach Mateh Aharon p. 163, Birchas Yosef 121: 3, Maadanei Daniel 226: 5, Rivavos Efraim (O.H. 6: 458, et. al.)
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar."
The Rov added that the same applies to the light of the moon.
On question 1712 in regard to reciting a brocho on the tree of a neighbor if you can only see it with binoculars, we wrote: "Ateres Paz (p. 224) quotes Horav O. Yosef zt’l that one recites birchas hailonos when observing the flowering fruit trees using binoculars or a monocular tube. Avnei Chen (26: 20), distinguishes between simple straight telescopes and the more evolved instruments that employ mirrors and the reflection of prisms. Pesach Hadbir (224: 10) equally permits their use for the brocho recited on a king.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar. The Rov also wrote a teshuva in Maayanei Shlomo (O.H. 77) in regards to different halachos involved in the use of mirrors and lenses."
Obviously the brocho could be recited when the trees are seen see through a window or the windshield of a car.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
