"Birchas HaChama" , the blessing over the sun is a unique Mitzvah, as it is only possible to perform it once every 28 years. This year, it falls out on Wednesday morning, Erev Pesach, April 8 2009. If it is missed this year, it will not be possible to perform it again until the year 2037!
Therefore, after being asked by a number of readers to cover these Halachos, I have decided to take a break from "Hilchos Netilas Yadayim" until after Pesach and cover Birchas Hachama as well some other relevant Halachos to Pesach, Chol HaMoed etc.
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1) The sun's cycle is a 28 year cycle. Once every 28 years , always on a Tuesday evening, the sun returns to the exact spot where it was on the day that Hashem created it on "the 4th day of creation".
To commemorate this phenomenon, the Bracha of "Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Oseh Ma'asei Bereishis- Blessed are You Hashem our G-d, master of the world who created everything in this world" is recited, along with some other special prayers. (Talmud Brachos 59b, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 229:2)
Since we cannot see the sun at night, we postpone the blessing until the following morning, thus "Birchas HaChama" always takes place on a Wednesday morning.
2) The earliest time for this Mitzvah to be performed is after sunrise (Netz Hachama) and only after the entire "ball" of the sun is visible.
The latest time for reciting this Bracha is a subject of debate in the Poskim.
Some Poskim maintain that you only have until the end of 3 Halachic hours into the day (same as Sof Zman Krias Shma. See Shu"t Chasam Sofer Orach Chaim Siman 56 and Mogen Avraham 229:5)
Other Poskim maintain that one can perform this Mitzvah throughout the entirety of the day. (Elya Rabbah 229:2 and others)
However, even according to those opinions, L'Chatchilah it should be recited before Chatzos (midday) (According to the Mishna Berura 229:8, it may be recited with Hashem's name until Chatzos, and only without Hashem's name after Chatzos)
According to all opinions, it is best to say the Bracha as early as possible and not push it off for no reason until close to the deadline.
It is best to perform this Mitzvah with a large group, B'Rov Am Hadras Melech, therefore if you will only have a group after Shacharis, according to many Poskim it is best to do it then, rather than doing it alone at Netz HaChama. (Shu"t Chasam Sofer ibid. and Elya Raba ibid.)
Other Poskim contend that it is better to recite the Bracha immediately upon seeing the sun and not to wait to do it together with a Tzibbur. (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 60:6 and 7, Kaf HaChaim Siman 229:13 and 14 and others)
The prevalent minhag in many Jewish communities is to daven Shacharis K'Vasikin and then recite the Birchas HaChama together as a Tzibbur.
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QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Does a cooked/fried davar charif (sharp food) have the same status as a raw davar charif? For instance, if a baked kugel contains fried onions that were cut with a fleishig knife, does it still have the status of a davar charif, and you can't eat it with milchigs?
Answer:
Yes, once a Davar Charif is cut with a Fleishig knife, it retains its status of Fleishig, even after being added to a Kugel and cooked
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
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