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Hilchos Birchas Hachama - 5769-2009
853. There is a Mitzvah to recite the Beracha of Birchas Hachama once every twenty-eight years, when the sun and moon return to the exact position in the sky in which they were placed at the time of creation. [This phenomenon will occur again this year, on April 8th, Erev Pesach.] Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 229:2, Mes. Berachos 59b
854. The beracha to be recited is (the same as said when one sees lightning); "Boruch Attah Hashem Elokeinu Melech Haolom, Oiseh Maaseh Bereishis".
Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 229:2
855. There is major disagreement amongst the Poskim as to whether women are obligated, or even permitted to make this beracha. For Ashkenazim, many women rely on the psak of the Chazon Ish (and The Maharil Diskin M'Brisk) who permitted women to make the beracha with the name of Hashem. For Sefardim, however, R' Ovadia Yosef (and The Ben Ish Chai) rules that women should not make the beracha on their own. Rather, they should answer Amein to the beracha made by a man.
Birchas Hachama (citing Chazon Ish), S'U Maharil Diskin 2:KA:5:26, S'U Yechave Daas 4:18, Ben Ish Chai Parshas Eikev 19, {S'U Minchas Yitzchok 8:34, S'U Chasam Sofer OC 56, S'U Ksav Sofer 34}
856. L'Chatchila the beracha should be said as early as possible after Netz Hachama (sunrise - NYC 6:28 am) to fulfill the rule of "Zrizin Makdimin L'Mitzvos" (the diligent hurry to fulfill their Mitzvah obligations). The minhag of The Chazon Ish and The Steipler (and many others) was to daven Shachris K'vasikin, and then the congregation would go outside and say the beracha (B'rov Am - with a large multitude) after Kaddish following U'va L'tziyon, (before Aleinu and the Yom). Shulchan Aruch 229 see Shaarei Tshuva 3, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:7, R' Yechiel Michel Tikutchinsky in Tekufas Hachama U'birchasa, Orchos Rabbeinu 1:pg95
857. Bidieved one may make the beracha until Chatzos (12:58 pm NYC). Sefardim should not make the beracha later than 3 (halachic) hours into the day (9:43 am NYC). Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 229:2 MB8, Ben Ish Chai Parshas Eikev 19, Kaf Hachaim SK17
858. Before making the beracha one should look at the sun and then immediately make the beracha. If however, one looked at the sun and did not make the beracha, one may still look at the sun again later and make the beracha. Piskei Tshuvos 229:5, S'U Betzail Hachochma 5:27
859. (If it is a cloudy day), one may make the beracha L'chatchila as long as one can see at least an outline of the sun through the clouds. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 229:2 MB8 citing The Chasam Sofer
860. On a cloudy day one may wait for the (outline of the) sun to appear, until as late as Chatzos (12:58 pm NYC) in order to make the beracha. However, if the sun does not appear, one should nevertheless make the beracha before Chatzos without the name of Hashem and say: "Boruch Oiseh Maaseh Bereishis". Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 229:2 MB8, Piskei Tshuvos 229:7
861. For Sefardim, however, the ruling of The Ben Ish Chai & Kaf Hachaim is that the beracha should not be said after 3 (halachic) hours into the day. Therefore, on a cloudy day one should only wait until then (9:42 am NYC) for the sun to appear, and if it has not appeared, make the beracha without Hashem's name. Ben Ish Chai Parshas Eikev 19, Kaf Hachaim SK17
862. The custom is to say Tehillim 148 (some say the entire chapter, other stop after possuk 5) before making the beracha, and then following the beracha, "El Adon Al Kol Hamasim" (from Birchas Krias Shema on Shabbos), and Tehillim 19, followed by Aleinu and Kaddish. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 229:2 MB8
{There are many other minhagim that add other tefillos before and after the beracha. e.g. Nishmas Kol Chai, Ana Bikoach, Bereishis 1:14-19, Yirmiyahu 31:34-39, Tehillim 136:1-9, Tehillim 67, Tehillim 121, Perek Shira - "Shemesh"}
863. When bowing during Aleinu at "Va'anachnu Kori'im" one should be careful not to bow towards the sun. Kuntras Tekufas Hachama U'Birchasa, Piskei Tshuvos 229:8
864. Some have the custom to either wear a new article of clothing, or have a new fruit present, in order to make a beracha of Shehechiyanu on the clothing or fruit which would also be valid for the phenomenon of the sun and moon being in this special position once in twenty eight years. Piskei Tshuvos 229:4, Kuntras Birchas Hachama, S'U Minchas Yitzchok 8:15, S'U Yechave Daas 4:18 citing R' Chaim Palagi
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Of the 613 Mitzvos, there are Six Constant Mitzvos. Rather than requiring the performance of a certain action, these mitzvos are a state of being, of living with the reality of God's existence. The Six Constant Mitzvos are:
* Believe there is a God.
* Don't believe in other gods.
* Believe God is one.
* Love God.
* Fear God.
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