Here Comes The Sun

[Daniel Baumet]

The Talmud (Brachot 59b) teaches:

He who sees the sun at its season, the moon at its strength, the stars in their paths, and the constellations in their order, recites "Blessed is the One Who performs the act of creation." And when does this happen? Abaye says: Every 28 years, when the cycle returns and the season of Nissan falls in Saturn, on the fourth day of the week.

On April 8, 2009, the eve of Passover, Jews around the world will rise early, gaze at the sun and recite the least-frequently-recited blessing in Judaism: Birkat HaChama, the blessing on the sun. We recite this blessing once every 28 years, and it's coming to your neighborhood very soon. Assuming, of course, that the sun rises that fateful Wednesday the same way it has every day until now...

How-to

Ideally, one should recite the blessing as early as possible, and with as large a group as possible. Practically speaking, this means that people will get up early and pray Shacharit right at sunrise, and immediately after recite the blessing:

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha Olam,oshea ma'aseh vereishit.(blessed are you Lord G-d
king of the universe who performs the act of creation.

Preferably, the blessing should be said by the third hour of the day. Adjusting for daylight savings time, this time is 9:42 a.m. in New York City, and 9:30 a.m. in Jerusalem. If necessary, the blessing can still be said up until midday (12:57 p.m. in New York and 12:41 in Jerusalem).

The blessing should be said where you can see the ball of the sun, or at least the silhouette of the sun behind a cloud. If it is a cloudy day and you cannot see the sun, you should say the blessing without including God's holy name.

According to the Mishnah Berurah (229:8), there are a number of other prayers to say that morning, in the following order:

1. Psalm 148
2. The blessing of "Oseh Ma'aseh Breishit"
3. "Kel Adone..." until "Chayot Hakodesh" (part of the first blessing of Shema on Shabbat morning)
4. Psalm 19
5. "Aleynu"
6. Kaddish (in the presence of a minyan)

[Daniel Baumet]

Do the Math
On the Jewish calendar, Creation took place 5,769 years ago. Why recite this blessing now? Why only once every 28 years? And how can this blessing help us grow closer to God in our daily lives?
In order to understand Birkat HaChama, a bit of astronomy is necessary. The Torah teaches that on the fourth day of creation -- that very first Wednesday of world history -- God created the sun (Genesis 1:16). A solar year is 365 1/4 days long -- i.e. 52 complete weeks, plus 1 1/4 days left over. That means each year, the sun returns to its starting point 1 1/4 days later in the week. The sun resets to its original starting point -- at the first hour of Wednesday morning -- only once every 28 years. (Do the math.)

Spiritual Significance

he blessing on the sun reminds us to pause and wonder at the miraculous marvel of Creation. One of the great things about the sun -- its reliability -- also presents a great spiritual problem. It rises and sets every day, like clockwork, without fail. So we begin to take it for granted, and assume that just like it's always there, it always will be.

Nothing can be further from the truth.

Every morning during Shacharit, we describe God as "He who illuminates the earth... and in His goodness renews daily, perpetually the act of Creation." While the sun rises each day, it rises because God actively causes it and all of nature to function according to His divine and infinite will. In the harried rush of our busy lives, we allow ourselves to forget God's role in the majesty of Creation. We take Him for granted, precisely because He's always there, running the world in the background.
As we recite the blessing on the sun, we contemplate the majesty of God's Universal Reset, appreciating God's amazing work that allows us to serve Him, as the sun rises, each and every day.

So... Twitter your friends and mark your calendar for the morning of April 8. Twenty-eight years from now, you'll probably be sitting with your grandchildren, reminiscing about where you were when you said the blessing on the sun in 2009.

[Daniel Baumet]

I have received Email from those who do not agree, and by all means disagree, But why not talk about it here?
There is an expression "Every thing is negotiable" , although I may not agree with the wording I do with the intent or else how can one learn? Take note this is only done once every 28 years, so it is an unfamiliar custom ...

Is it applicable to Messianics ?
Are there cross references in Torah and the Kaballa ? Note this is in the Talmud (or as we like to say here ,, Tell Mud" lol) I am not so grabbing things as solid truth in Talmud, Torah yes.. the rest is commentary.
So I welcome your response..

[Daniel Baumet]

From : L.C. Usher

I have been in study concerning the Brichat HaChamah and I have a real concern about the date that it is being celebrated on. My thought is this: Based on the Talmud the Most High conceived creation in the seventh month and brought it forth in the first month. That being Nisan at the spring equinox. If the first day was at the equinox then on the fourth day the sun, moon and stars received their appointments. Why then do we celebrate the Blessing of the Sun 14 days later? It seems to me that the blessing should be recited on Fourth day (tue night to wed ) in order for it to line up with the 28 year theory. Can you tell me if I am understanding this in error. Be Blessed in Elohim and in the Power of His Might!

[Daniel Baumet]

I would add is a shurim a friend sent me on this subject.

http://www.askaudio.org/shiurim/guest/Birchas%20HaHama.mp3