Bracha Rishona/Borei Pri HaEtz, Part 1

Besides for being a d'rabanan, a bracha rishona differs from a bracha acharona . . .

• bracha rishona is an appreciation of the specific food; bracha acharona is thanking God for the benefit of having eaten the food

• bracha rishona is thanking God for the benefit of having eaten the food bracha acharona is an appreciation of the specific food

• bracha rishona must be said with special kavana; bracha acharona is said with regular levels of kavanah

• bracha rishona is said before eating any amount of food; bracha acharona is said only after eating a k'zayis (derabanan) or having eaten to satisfaction (de'o'raisa)

• bracha rishona is said even on liquids; bracha acharona is only said on solid foods

Sources like these are all examples of

• pesukim we say in davening every day

• pesukim which we paraphrase in our Shabbos davening

• Pesukim which we paraphrase in certain brachos

• Pesukim which express and reflect the importance of perceiving and appreciating the complexity and vastness of creation

Sources like this illustrate

• that trees are mentioned in Tehillim
• that we mention trees in davening
• that the Torah believes in nature
• that the Torah thinks of trees as having a special importance and being in a category of their own
• that trees occur in nature

For purposes of brachos, we define a tree (as opposed to other plants) as . . .

• something which doesn't need to regrow after you pick the fruit
• something which usually grows more than three tefachim tall
• something which produces a food high in complex carbohydrates
• something whose fruits taste good
• something with edible leaves

If your practice is to say HaEtz on papaya, then

• we think papaya is only kosher outside of Israel where we rely on סָפֵק עָרְלָה
• we MIGHT think papaya is also kosher in Israel b/c it's not a tree
• my rabbi might be playing it safe, or he might have a clear p'sak
• my rabbi obviously has a definitive p'sak

If your practice is to say HaAdama on papaya, then

• we think papaya is only kosher outside of Israel where we rely on סָפֵק עָרְלָה
• we MIGHT think papaya is also kosher in Israel b/c it's not a tree
• my rabbi might be playing it safe, or he might have a clear p'sak
• my rabbi obviously has a definitive p'sak

NOWADAYS, there are differing opinions about

• banana plants
• almonds
• oranges
• berries whose bushes regrow the smaller branches -- but nothing else -- from year to year.

Which tree foods get a Ha'Etz?

• The "main fruit" if eaten in a normal, non-degraded state
• a normal food eaten normally which isn't the main fruit
• a food which is not in a normal state, or has been changed significantly
• all of the above

Which tree foods get a Ha'adama?

• The "main fruit" if eaten in a normal, non-degraded state
• a normal food eaten normally which isn't the main fruit
• a food which is not in a normal state, or has been changed significantly
• all of the above

Which tree foods get a SheHakol?

• The "main fruit" if eaten in a normal, non-degraded state
• a normal food eaten normally which isn't the main fruit
• a food which is not in a normal state, or has been changed significantly
• all of the above