Starting on Rosh Chodesh and throughout the month of Nissan, we are given a mitzvah opportunity to recite Birkas Ha’Ilanos, a special blessing over a newly budding fruit tree. It was the holy practice of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l—the great tzaddik and posek hador—to fulfill the mitzvah at the first opportunity and in the best way possible.
One Rosh Chodesh Nissan, after davening shacharis k’vasikin, “with the sunrise,” Rav Shlomo Zalman and his son set out to recite the special blessing. “Tatte, look! There are two budding trees right here, we can go right over and make the bracha.”
“Ah, thank you, yes, they are beautiful … but I prefer to go somewhere else,” Rav Shlomo Zalman replied.”
They walked some distance through Shaarei Chesed and arrived at a small courtyard where a single tree stood, with a few buds sprouting. Knowing that his father was of the halachic opinion that it is preferable to make the bracha upon seeing at least two fruit-bearing blossoming trees, the gadol hador’s son was surprised. “But Tatte … There’s only one tree?” he said.
Rav Shlomo Zalman smiled at his son. “You’re right. It is preferable to make the bracha over two trees.” He then motioned toward the apartment above the garden, where an elderly woman stood at the window looking out toward the garden below. “Do you see that woman watching us? She lost her husband many years ago and lives alone, rarely venturing out. She waits all year for me to come and make Birchas Ha’Ilanos on this tree. Bringing joy to an almana, and showing her sensitivity, is a mitzvah d’Oraisa—a biblical commandment, while reciting the bracha on two trees is a praiseworthy rabbinic stringency.
Rav Shlomo Zalman looked toward the window, nodded at the elderly woman, smiled and made the bracha over her tree.
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Our sedra describes the building of the Mishkan, and details the elements of its construction. Every element of the structure—from its design, materials, colors and size—was according to Hashem’s instructions:
כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה ה׳ אֶת־מֹשֶׁה כֵּן עָשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵת כָּל־הָעֲבֹדָה
וַיַּרְא מֹשֶׁה אֶת־כָּל־הַמְּלָאכָה וְהִנֵּה עָשׂוּ אֹתָהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה׳ כֵּן עָשׂוּ וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם מֹשֶׁה
“Just as Hashem had commanded Moshe, so did Bnei Yisrael do all the work.
And Moshe saw all the work, and behold they had done it as Hashem had commanded, ‘kein asu—so had they done,’ and Moshe blessed them,” (Shemos, 39:42-43).
The Ohr HaChayim HaKadosh teaches that there are certain details in our performance of mitzvos that, while optimal and enhance the mitzvah, are not required. The Torah’s repetition of “kein asu—and so they did,” teaches us that Bnei Yisrael did everything they were commanded, אפילו דברים שאינם אלא מצוה מן המובחר—“even those elements that are not required but which optimize the fulfilment of the mitzvah.”
Rav Dr. Yitzchak Twersky, the Tolner Rebbe, zt”l, sees the construction of the Mishkan—meeting place between Am Yisrael and Hashem—as a paradigm for our fulfilment of mitzvos, as well as a fundamental life lesson in our divine service. Mitzvos are opportunities for us to draw close to Hashem; when we fulfill them “min hamuvchar—in their ideal form,” we express a desire to draw close to God. When we invest ourselves in following halacha with dedication and enthusiasm, we continue the precedent of “kein asu.” Striving to go beyond the letter of law and exceeding that which is required, we express our desire to live a life of fulfilling ratzon Hashem in the highest possible way.
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Starting on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, we can recognize the exalted levels of commitment to halacha prevalent in Jewish homes. The intensive efforts, dedication and stringencies prevalent in every community in klal Yisrael are certainly a source of nachas to Hashem—a limud zechus on high. Pesach season is a “headquarters” of chumros, stringencies and “extras,” along with our minhagim, holy family traditions and customs. At a time where we are so focused on striving to live with mitzvah min hamuvchar, it is critical to remember where to focus our priorities.
Rav Yisrael Salanter, zt”l, warned his students that they ought to be “machmir”—stringent in preparing and baking matzos—in order to fulfill every aspect of the halacha beyond the letter of the law. He also charged them to make sure to be sensitive and kind to the women who worked in the matzah bakery—most of whom were poor and many of whom were almanos.
May we—this Rosh Chodesh Nisan and Yom Tov season—merit to fulfill all of our obligations כאשר צוה ה׳—“as God has commanded us,” and observe mitzvos min hamuvchar—by following in Rav Shlomo Zalman’s example, keeping “the main thing” the main thing.
***Excerpted from Rav Judah’s newly published “Baderech Haggadah: Along the Path of Redemption” (Mosaica 2025).
Rav Judah Mischel is executive director of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children. He is the founder of Tzama Nafshi and the author of the “Baderech” series. Rav Judah lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife Ora and their family.
