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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'>During a lecture on Judaism and sustainability, the teacher made a fascinating claim:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'>The reason we say Birkat HaIllanot in Nissan is b/c – in Nissan the trees of Shiv'at HaMinim are in flower.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'>So, I did some research (using the internet) and apparently it is true.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'>All the trees of shiv'at HaMinim: olive, date, pomegranate, grape, figs, they all blossom in Nissan.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'>So, if anyone can send me a picture of one of these trees in flower, I would greatly appreciate it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'>Shoshana L. Boublil<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>