Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Mordechai Josef Leiner

2009-06-08T21:35:01Z

KosherJava: references to Jewish Vital records via JRI-PL

{{Expand|date=July 2007}}

{{Infobox Rebbe
| title = Izhbitzer Rebbe
| image =
| caption =
| term =1839 – 1854
| full name =Mordechai Yosef Leiner
| main work = Mei HaShiloach
| predecessor =(founder)
| successor = Yaakov Leiner
| spouse1 =
| issue1 = Yaakov Leiner
| spouse2 =
| issue2 = Shmuel Dov Asher Leiner
| spouse3 =
| issue3 =
| dynastyname = Izhbitz
| father = Yaacov Leiner of Tomashov
| mother =
| date of birth = 1801
| place of birth = Tomashov
| date of death = 7 Teves 5614
| place of death =
| date of burial =
| place of burial = Izhbitz
|}}

Rabbi '''Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica''' ({{lang-yi|איזשביצא, איזביצא ''Izhbitse, Izbitse''}}) (1801-1854<ref name="MordkoLajnerDeathReg">[http://www.lublin.ap.gov.pl The State Archive of Lublin]: "Jewish Civil Registry of Izbica Lubelski", 1854, Akt#: 6, Registration Type: death, Registration Year: 1854, Location: Izbica Lubelski, Surname: Lajner, Given Name: Mordko. Indexed by [[JewishGen|JRI-Poland]].</ref>) was a Hasidic thinker and founder of the [[Izhbitsa (Hasidic dynasty)|Izhbitzer dynasty]] of [[Hasidic Judaism]].

Rabbi Mordechai Yosef was born in [[Tomaszów Lubelski|Tomashov]] ({{lang-pl|[[Tomaszów Lubelski|Tomaszów]]}}) in 1801 to his father Reb Yaakov the son of [[Reb]] Mordechai of Sekul, a descendant of Rabbi Shoul Wahl. At the age two he became orphaned of his father. He became a disciple of Reb [[Simcha Bunim of Peshischa]] where he joined Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel of Kotzk]] and Rabbi Yosef of Yartshev; both were also born in Tomashov. When Rabbi Menachem Mendel became Rebbe in Kotzk, Reb Morechai Yosef became his disciple there; then in 1839 became himself a rebbe in Tomaszów, moving subsequently to [[Izbica]].

His leading disciple was Rabbi [[Yehuda Leib Eiger]] (1816-1888<ref name="LejbusEjgerDeathReg">[http://www.lublin.ap.gov.pl The State Archive of Lublin]: "Jewish Civil Registry of Lublin", 1888, Akt#: 46, Registration Type: death, Registration Year: 1888, Location: Lublin, Surname: Ejger, Given Name: Lejbus, Father: Szloma, Mother: Golda Rywka. Indexed by [[JewishGen|JRI-Poland]].</ref>), grandson of Rabbi [[Akiva Eiger]]. His students included Rabbi [[Zadok HaKohen]] of [[Lublin]] (1823-1900), his son, Rabbi Yaakov Leiner (1828-1878) and his son Rabbi Gershon Henoch of [[Radzin]].

== Thought ==

Rabbi Leiner is best known for his work Mei Hashiloach in which he expressed he doctrine that all events, including human actions, are absolutely under God's control, or as Rabbinic discourse would phrase it, by "[[Divine providence#In Jewish thought|''hashgachah pratit'']]." His second most famous idea is that if everything is determined by God, then even sin is done because God determines it. He presents defenses of various Biblical sinners, such as [[Korach]], [[Pinchas]], and [[Judah (Bible)|Judah]] (in the incident with Tamar).

One of his most cited comments is on [[Leviticus]] 21:1
None shall defile himself for any [dead] person among his kin.
Rabbi Leiner read the verse as a warning against the defilement of the soul. The soul is defiled when it is infected with the bitterness and rage that comes with senseless suffering and tragedy. Those who — like the [[Kohanim]]— would serve God, are commanded to find the resources to resist the defilements of despair and darkness. Despair is the ultimate denial of God, and surrender to darkness is the ultimate blasphemy.

The publication of Mei Hashiloach was met with controversy and some burned copies of the work.<ref> *Morris Faierstein, All is in the Hands of Heaven: The Teachings of Rabbai Mordecai Yosef Leiner of Izbica(New York: Ktav, 1989)</ref>

[[Alan Brill]] of [[Seton Hall University]] has suggested that the teachings of Rabbi [[Jonathan Eybeschutz]] may have influenced Rabbi Leiner's thinking.<ref> * Alan Brill, Thinking God: The Mysticism of Rabbi Zadok HaKohen Of Lublin (Yeshiva University Press, Ktav 2002)</ref>

== Relationship with the Kotzker Rebbe ==

Rabbi Leiner was the right-hand man of the Kotzker rebbe, Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel of Kotzk]], by whom he was charged with overseeing the Hasidim. In 1839 Leiner had a public and dramatic falling out with the Kotzker Rebbe. On the day after [[Simchat Torah]] of that year, Leiner left Kotzk with many of his followers to form his own hasidic circle.

The reasons given for the break are varied.

== Influence ==
His thought influenced the mussar of Rabbi [[Isaac Hutner]] and Rabbi [[Moshe Wolfson]].

Leiner's thought continues to have influence in the twentieth century, especially on [[Neo-Hasidism]], and the teachings of Rabbi [[Shlomo Carlebach (musician)|Shlomo Carlebach]] (the "singing rabbi").

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach is credited with the recent popularization of Rabbi Leiner's teachings. He apparently came across Rabbi Leiner's work in an old Jewish book store. He is quoted as saying that after initially being perplexed as to the peculiar nature of the teachings he quickly realized that in it lay the "secret for turning Jews on to the deeper meanings of Judaism".

== Works ==
*''Mei Hashiloach'' 2 volumes
*''Living Waters : The Mei HaShilo'ach'' translated by Betsalel Philip Edwards

== Bibliography ==
*Alan Brill, ''Thinking God: The Mysticism of Rabbi Zadok HaKohen Of Lublin'' (Yeshiva University Press, Ktav 2002)
*Morris M. Faierstein, ''All is in the Hands of Heaven: The Teachings of Rabbi Mordecai Joseph Leiner of Izbica'' (New York: Ktav, 1989) (2nd revised edition, Gorgias Press, 2005)
*Shaul Maggid, ''Hasidism on the Margin'' (University of Wisc. 2003)
*Allan Nadler, "Hasidism on the Margin: Reconciliation, Antinomianism, and Messianism in Izbica/Radzin Hasidism (review)" ''Jewish Quarterly Review'' - Volume 96, Number 2, Spring 2006, pp. 276-282
*Rivka Schatz, "Autonomy of the Spirit and the Law of Moses" (Hebrew), Molad 21 (1973–1974), pp. 554–561
*Joseph Weiss, "A Late Jewish Utopia of Religious Freedom," in David Goldstein, ed., ''Studies in Eastern European Jewish Mysticism'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985)

== References ==

<references/>

== External links ==

*[http://sites.google.com/site/jewishstuff/ibit
Notice for Yearly Conference on his thought]
*[http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=11834 jewishjournal.com]

== Timeline ==

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[[Category:Hasidic rebbes]]
[[Category:Polish Orthodox rabbis]]
[[Category:Polish rabbis]]
[[Category:Determinists]]
[[Category:19th-century rabbis]]
[[Category:Jewish theologians]]
[[Category:1801 births]]
[[Category:1854 deaths]]

[[he:מרדכי יוסף ליינר]]
[[yi:מרדכי יוסף ליינער]]

Birkat ha-Chama

2009-02-17T19:37:29Z

KosherJava: wikisource links

'''''Birchat Hachammah''''' (ברכת החמה, "Blessing of the [[Sun]]") refers to a special [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Jewish prayer|blessing]] in that it is recited on the Sun only once every twenty-eight years.

The 28 year period of the [[solar cycle (calendar)|solar cycle]] is known as ''machzor gadol'' (מחזור גדול, "the large cycle"). A solar year is 365.25 days long according the Jewish law and the "Blessing of the Sun" is therefor recited every 10,227 (28 times 365.25) days. The next date of its recital will be on April 8, 2009 (14 ''[[Nisan]]'' [[5769 (Hebrew year)|5769]]).

The same blessing is recited upon experiencing numerous natural phenomena, including but not limited to [[lightning]], [[comets]], [[meteor showers]] and even wonderous natural topography, such as great [[mountain]]s, [[river]]s and vast [[wilderness]]es.<ref>[[Artscroll]] ''Yitzchak Yair Siddur'' page 98</ref> When recited for these other experiences, the blessing is recited alone without additional verses, Psalms or statements relating to the Sun. The text of the blessing itself follows:

:"ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם עשה מעשה בראשית"
:"''Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe who makes the works of Creation.''"

==Codification is Jewish law==
The [[Shulchan Aruch]] states that this blessing, generally said upon experiencing natural phenomena, should also be recited upon witnessing the ''chammah b'tekufatah'' (חמה בתקופתה). This term, quoted from a [[Beraita]], is explained by the [[Chofetz Chaim]] as referring to the point in time at which the Sun returns to the start of its cycle, similar to when it was created.<ref>''[[Orach Chaim]]'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', "''b'tekufatah''"</ref>

As explained below, the blessing is recited on the morning after the Sun completes its cycle; ideally, it should be recited at sunrise,<ref>''Orach Chaim'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''Be'er Heitev'', "''baboker''"</ref> referred to in Jewish law as ''haneitz hahammah'' (הנץ החמה). It is preferred to recite the blessing with a multitude of people, in keeping with the principle of ''[[b'rov am hadrat melech]]''.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> The ''[[Magen Avraham]]'' and the ''[[Levush]]'' insist that it be recited within the first three hours after sunrise.<ref>''[[Be'er Heitev]]''</ref> The ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', however, states on behalf of numerous ''[[Achronim]]'' that it is permitted the blessing to be recited until ''halachic'' noon.<ref>"''Baboker''"</ref>

According to most commentators, the blessing may only be recited if the Sun can be seen.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> If the Sun is completely blocked by clouds, there is a minority view that allows the blessing to be recited nonetheless because it is the essential blessing is on the juxtaposition of the Sun's physical position with the timing of the day.<ref>''[[Chaim Mordechai Margaliot|Shaarei Teshuva]]'', "''baboker''"</ref>

==Overview==
According to the [[Babylonian Talmud]] (tractate ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' [http://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%A0%D7%98_%D7%91 59b]), the [[Sun]] makes a 28 year cycle to return to the position that it was in when the Universe was first [[Creation myth|created]]. This is not entirely correct, however; in fact, the Sun takes only one year to return to the same position, hence providing the definition of a solar year.

According to Jewish tradition, the Sun was created<ref>Genesis 1:14 + commentary of [[Rashi]]. Many Biblical commentators, including Rashi, insist that the luminaries were, in fact, created on the first day and only suspended in place on the fourth day.</ref> on ''yom rivi'i'' (יום רביעי, the "fourth day") of the week of Creation. Because Jewish law, known as ''[[halacha]]'', considers the unit of a day to span from evening to evening,<ref>''[[Bavli]]'' ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' [http://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%91_%D7%90 2a]</ref> the beginning of the ''halachic'' fourth day, so to speak, is on Tuesday evening at sundown. The 28 year cycle is marking the time it takes for the Sun to return to the position it was in when created at the point in time it was created, namely, Tuesday at sundown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/820926/jewish/Calculating-the-Date.htm |title=Calculating the Date of Birkat Hachamah |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[[Chabad.org]] |date=}}</ref> Although the Sun returns to this position every year, it only returns to this position at sundown on a Tuesday once every 28 years.

==The vernal equinox==
As explained in the [[Talmud]], there is a tradition that the Sun was created in its [[vernal equinox]] position at the beginning of the springtime Jewish [[lunar month]] of ''Nissan''.<ref>''Bavli'' ''[[Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)|Rosh Hashanah]]'' [http://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%A9_%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%94_%D7%99_%D7%91 10b]</ref> [[Chazal|The sages of the Talmud]] settled disputes over the ''[[halacha|halachic]]'' definition of the vernal equinox by establishing it on March 25 of the [[Julian calendar]]. Because both the Julian calendar and Jewish tradition define a solar year as exactly 365.25 days, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox historically fell out on March 25th every year.

In summary, ''Birchat Hachammah'' is recited when the vernal equinox (the position at which the Sun was created) occurs at sundown on a Tuesday (the time at which the sun was created).

==The solar calendar==
[[File:Birchat haChammah.jpg|thumb|right|This table gives the weekly calendar day corresponding to the vernal equinox in each year listed; note how the majority appear a day later than the previous year, accounting for the extra day. The right-most column accounts for the extra 6 hours, which only affects the day of the week every fourth year.]]
This method of marking the cycle of ''machzor gadol'' was invalidated in 1582 when the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] by decree of [[Pope Gregory XIII]]. The calendar was adjusted to allow for [[Easter]] to be celebrated in the appropriate time according to an agreement reached at the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 CE. To recalibrate the calendar, two adjustments were made:
# Ten days were removed in order to compensate for the incorporation of excess days since the establishment of the Julian calendar.
# A method to avoid further incorporation of excess days was put into place, whereby February 29th would be skipped according to a particular [[algorithm]].

The last day of the Julian calendar was Thursday, 4 October 1582 and this was followed by the first day of the Gregorian calendar, Friday, 15 October. According to Jewish tradition, though, this modification was unjustified and remains unrecognized by ''halacha'' (Jewish law). Thus, according to ''halacha'', while the vernal equinox occurred on March 25, 1581, it occurred on April 4, 1582 (March 25, 1582 according to Jewish law). In order to compensate for the second modification instituted by the Gregorian calendar, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox has been shifting slightly forward in the year ever since 1582.

* In 1609, the vernal equinox was on April 4 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1709, the vernal equinox was on April 5 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1809, the vernal equinox was on April 6 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1909, the vernal equinox was on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 2009, the vernal equinox will be on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)

The ''halachic'' equinox jumps a day every century because the algorithm that established the Gregorian calendar dictates that leap years do not occur in years divisible by 100. Jewish law denies the validity of what this algorithm is trying to accomplish and compensates for it by moving the date of the equinox each century. There was no shift between 1909 and 2009, however, because the algorithm states that an exception to this 'divisible by 100' rule is a 'divisible by 400' rule, at which time a leap year will occur even though the year is also divisible by 100; thus, the year 2000 did contain a February 29th and no compensation was necessary. The table at right depicts all the vernal equinoxes from 1981 to 2009, two years in which ''Birchat Hachammah'' occurs; note that the equinox does not occur at sunset (time=0) on the fourth day (Tuesday) in the entire 28 year cycle.

The ''halachic'' year of 365.25 days is equivalent to 52 weeks, 1 day and 6 hours. This means that any given date will appear a day later in the calendar week in a subsequent year. For example:
* July 3, 1932 was on Sunday
* July 3, 1933 was on Monday
* July 3, 1934 was on Tuesday
* July 3, 1935 was on Wednesday
July 3, 1936, however, was on a Friday and not a Thursday because the 6 hours that accrued over each of the four years effectively adds another calendar day (i.e. 6 hours x 4 years = 24 hours = 1 day).

''Halacha'' maintains that the Sun was created in the position of the vernal equinox immediately after sundown on the fourth day of the week of Creation, which is equivalent to sunset on Tuesday of that week. If that is considered time zero (t=0), and subsequent years' vernal equinoxes occur 1 day and 6 hours later, it would appear as follows:
* Year 1: Day 4 at sunset (Tuesday)
* Year 2: Day 5 at midnight (Thursday)
* Year 3: Day 6 at sunrise (Friday)
* Year 4: Day 7 at noon (Saturday)
* Year 5: Day 2 at sunset (Sunday)
* Year 6: Day 3 at midnight (Tuesday)
Every four years sees a jump of an additional day because the four six-hour periods sum to a full day. This is somewhat similar to a solar leap year occurring every 4 years to account for the four quarter days that accrued at a rate of a quarter day per year.

Although the proper time for the blessing would be at sundown on Tuesday April 7th, the Sun is no longer visible at sundown; the blessing is therefor delayed until the following morning.

The 28 year cycle is based on a solar year of 365.25 days, as was accepted by the [[Julian calendar]], which we now know as being only nearly precise. The Julian calendar loses one day of accuracy about every 133 years.

==Order of the service==

No set service existed until the [[Shulchan Aruch]]; since then, various similar religious services have been offered by Rabbi [[Moses Sofer]] and the [[Mishnah Berurah]]. The service generally includes:
*Quotations about the sun from the [[Tanach]]
*Four verses from the Tanakh which spell out the [[Tetragrammaton]]
*Some of [[Babylonian Talmud|Talmud]] [[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]] 59b
*Parts of [[Psalms]] 148 and 90
*The actual blessing recited on natural phenomena (''Baruch Atah...maaseh vereishit'')
*Psalms 121, 8 and 19
*The hymm ''El Adon al kol hama'asim'' (normally part of the ''[[Shabbat]]'' prayer [[Jewish services|services]]).
*[[Aleinu]]
*The mourner's ''[[kaddish]]''

==Occurrences of Birchat Hachammah==
Occurrences in the last 120 years:
* [[Wednesday]], [[April 7]], [[1897]] (5 Nisan 5657)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1925]] (14 Nisan 5685)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1953]] (23 Nisan 5713)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1981]] (4 Nisan 5741)
Birkat HaHammah will occur next on
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[2009]] (14 Nisan 5769)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2037]] (23 Nisan 5797)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2065]] (2 Nisan 5825)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2093]] (12 Nisan 5853)
* Wednesday, [[April 9]], [[2121]] (21 Nisan 5881)

Note: Because the dates for Birchat Hachammah assume a 365.25-day solar year and the [[Julian calendar]] also assumes a 365.25-day solar year, Birchat Hachammah will always fall on [[March 25]] in the Julian calendar. While Birchat Hachammah usually occurs in the Jewish lunar month of ''Nissan'', this is not always the case; it will occur on 29 ''Adar'' II (April 10th) in the year 2233<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1584/zqarc161.html |title=Question 161 - When next will Birkat HaHamah not be recited in the Hebrew month of Nisan? |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1584/ Hebrew Calendar Science and Myths] |date= |author=Remy Landau}}</ref>.

==Lerman's thesis==

Moshe Lerman suggested<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 |title=Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[[Arutz Sheva]] |date=2005-05-08 |author=Moshe Lerman}}</ref> a background to Birchat Hachammah by pointing out a possible connection between the traditional Hebrew dating and the two ''machzorim'' ("cycles") that are observed in Jewish tradition—the "small" 19-year cycle which is the basis of the Jewish calendar, and the "big" 28-year cycle which determines the year in which Birchat Hachammah is recited. Mathematically, if one knows the position of a certain year in both cycles, one can compute the number associated to the year [[modular arithmetic|modulo]] 532 (19 times 28), given that the starting point of both cycles is year 1.

Because the astronomical year is slightly shorter than 365.25 days, the date of Birchat Hachammah shifts away from the spring equinox as history proceeds. A simple astronomical calculation shows that 84 cycles of 28 years before 5769, in the Jewish year 3417, the spring equinox was in the beginning of the night before the fourth day of the week as stipulated by the [[Talmud]]. Lerman takes this as a hint that the astronomically astute Jewish sages of the time concluded that the Jewish year 3417 was a first year in the cycle of 28 years. Moreover, Lerman suggests that these same Jewish sages would have reasoned that year 3421 was a first year in the 19-year cycle, in accordance with an ancient tradition that the world was created in the first week of the month of ''Nissan''. They would have concluded this from the Spring equinox occurring early in the night leading to the fourth day of the Jewish month of ''Nissan'' in the Jewish year 3421.

Lerman surmises that the Jewish sages at the time could argue for a determination of the position of their years in both cycles and could therefore compute the absolute year-count modulo 532 years. They were left with a number of options, 532 years apart from each other, and Lerman suggests that they chose the dating closest to what seemed to be the truth according to a literal interpretation of biblical accounts. The sages legally defined future equinox times by instituting the 28-year cycle, to protect the Hebrew dating against future change, and to leave a remembrance to what they had done.

==References==
<references/>

==Additional refernces==
* Rabbi [[J. David Bleich]]. ''Bircas Hachammah, Blessing of the Sun: Renewal of the Creation: a Halachic Analysis and Anthology''. Brooklyn, N.Y.: [[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications ltd]], 1981. ISBN 0-89906-176-1.
* Lasker, AA and Lasker DJ. ''Birkat Hahammah: The Blessing of the Sun''. Conservative Judaism 1981;34:17–28.
* [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? by Moshe Lerman] — theory about the origins of the Hebrew dating

==External links==
* [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/817861/jewish/Birkat-Hachamah.htm Birchat Hachammah Guide]
* [http://star-k.org/kashrus/kk-BirchasHachama.htm Star-K Online: Halachos of Birchat Hachammah]
* [http://www.easyrashi.com/birkas_hachama/index.html Sun page]
* [http://berachot.org/halacha/24_birkathachammah.html Your Complete Guide to Brochos]
* [http://www.kehillaton.com/en/articles_birkat_hachama.asp?c=1 Comprehensive discussion on Birchat Hachammah at Kehillaton.com]

[[Category:Jewish blessings]]
[[Category:Jewish history]]
[[Category:Hebrew calendar]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Sun]]

[[he:ברכת החמה]]
[[yi:ברכת החמה]]

Birkat ha-Chama

2009-02-17T19:16:46Z

KosherJava: /* Occurrences of Birchat Hachammah */ {{cite web}} template for [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1584/ Hebrew Calendar Science and Myths] ref

'''''Birchat Hachammah''''' (ברכת החמה, "Blessing of the [[Sun]]") refers to a special [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Jewish prayer|blessing]] in that it is recited on the Sun only once every twenty-eight years.

The 28 year period of the [[solar cycle (calendar)|solar cycle]] is known as ''machzor gadol'' (מחזור גדול, "the large cycle"). A solar year is 365.25 days long according the Jewish law and the "Blessing of the Sun" is therefor recited every 10,227 (28 times 365.25) days. The next date of its recital will be on April 8, 2009 (14 ''[[Nisan]]'' [[5769 (Hebrew year)|5769]]).

The same blessing is recited upon experiencing numerous natural phenomena, including but not limited to [[lightning]], [[comets]], [[meteor showers]] and even wonderous natural topography, such as great [[mountain]]s, [[river]]s and vast [[wilderness]]es.<ref>[[Artscroll]] ''Yitzchak Yair Siddur'' page 98</ref> When recited for these other experiences, the blessing is recited alone without additional verses, Psalms or statements relating to the Sun. The text of the blessing itself follows:

:"ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם עשה מעשה בראשית"
:"''Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe who makes the works of Creation.''"

==Codification is Jewish law==
The [[Shulchan Aruch]] states that this blessing, generally said upon experiencing natural phenomena, should also be recited upon witnessing the ''chammah b'tekufatah'' (חמה בתקופתה). This term, quoted from a [[Beraita]], is explained by the [[Chofetz Chaim]] as referring to the point in time at which the Sun returns to the start of its cycle, similar to when it was created.<ref>''[[Orach Chaim]]'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', "''b'tekufatah''"</ref>

As explained below, the blessing is recited on the morning after the Sun completes its cycle; ideally, it should be recited at sunrise,<ref>''Orach Chaim'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''Be'er Heitev'', "''baboker''"</ref> referred to in Jewish law as ''haneitz hahammah'' (הנץ החמה). It is preferred to recite the blessing with a multitude of people, in keeping with the principle of ''[[b'rov am hadrat melech]]''.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> The ''[[Magen Avraham]]'' and the ''[[Levush]]'' insist that it be recited within the first three hours after sunrise.<ref>''[[Be'er Heitev]]''</ref> The ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', however, states on behalf of numerous ''[[Achronim]]'' that it is permitted the blessing to be recited until ''halachic'' noon.<ref>"''Baboker''"</ref>

According to most commentators, the blessing may only be recited if the Sun can be seen.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> If the Sun is completely blocked by clouds, there is a minority view that allows the blessing to be recited nonetheless because it is the essential blessing is on the juxtaposition of the Sun's physical position with the timing of the day.<ref>''[[Chaim Mordechai Margaliot|Shaarei Teshuva]]'', "''baboker''"</ref>

==Overview==
According to the [[Babylonian Talmud]] (tractate ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' 59b), the [[Sun]] makes a 28 year cycle to return to the position that it was in when the Universe was first [[Creation myth|created]]. This is not entirely correct, however; in fact, the Sun takes only one year to return to the same position, hence providing the definition of a solar year.

According to Jewish tradition, the Sun was created<ref>Genesis 1:14 + commentary of [[Rashi]]. Many Biblical commentators, including Rashi, insist that the luminaries were, in fact, created on the first day and only suspended in place on the fourth day.</ref> on ''yom rivi'i'' (יום רביעי, the "fourth day") of the week of Creation. Because Jewish law, known as ''[[halacha]]'', considers the unit of a day to span from evening to evening,<ref>''[[Bavli]]'' ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' 2a</ref> the beginning of the ''halachic'' fourth day, so to speak, is on Tuesday evening at sundown. The 28 year cycle is marking the time it takes for the Sun to return to the position it was in when created at the point in time it was created, namely, Tuesday at sundown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/820926/jewish/Calculating-the-Date.htm |title=Calculating the Date of Birkat Hachamah |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[[Chabad.org]] |date=}}</ref> Although the Sun returns to this position every year, it only returns to this position at sundown on a Tuesday once every 28 years.

==The vernal equinox==
As explained in the [[Talmud]], there is a tradition that the Sun was created in its [[vernal equinox]] position at the beginning of the springtime Jewish [[lunar month]] of ''Nissan''.<ref>''Bavli'' ''[[Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)|Rosh Hashanah]]'' 10b</ref> [[Chazal|The sages of the Talmud]] settled disputes over the ''[[halacha|halachic]]'' definition of the vernal equinox by establishing it on March 25 of the [[Julian calendar]]. Because both the Julian calendar and Jewish tradition define a solar year as exactly 365.25 days, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox historically fell out on March 25th every year.

In summary, ''Birchat Hachammah'' is recited when the vernal equinox (the position at which the Sun was created) occurs at sundown on a Tuesday (the time at which the sun was created).

==The solar calendar==
[[File:Birchat haChammah.jpg|thumb|right|This table gives the weekly calendar day corresponding to the vernal equinox in each year listed; note how the majority appear a day later than the previous year, accounting for the extra day. The right-most column accounts for the extra 6 hours, which only affects the day of the week every fourth year.]]
This method of marking the cycle of ''machzor gadol'' was invalidated in 1582 when the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] by decree of [[Pope Gregory XIII]]. The calendar was adjusted to allow for [[Easter]] to be celebrated in the appropriate time according to an agreement reached at the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 CE. To recalibrate the calendar, two adjustments were made:
# Ten days were removed in order to compensate for the incorporation of excess days since the establishment of the Julian calendar.
# A method to avoid further incorporation of excess days was put into place, whereby February 29th would be skipped according to a particular [[algorithm]].

The last day of the Julian calendar was Thursday, 4 October 1582 and this was followed by the first day of the Gregorian calendar, Friday, 15 October. According to Jewish tradition, though, this modification was unjustified and remains unrecognized by ''halacha'' (Jewish law). Thus, according to ''halacha'', while the vernal equinox occurred on March 25, 1581, it occurred on April 4, 1582 (March 25, 1582 according to Jewish law). In order to compensate for the second modification instituted by the Gregorian calendar, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox has been shifting slightly forward in the year ever since 1582.

* In 1609, the vernal equinox was on April 4 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1709, the vernal equinox was on April 5 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1809, the vernal equinox was on April 6 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1909, the vernal equinox was on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 2009, the vernal equinox will be on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)

The ''halachic'' equinox jumps a day every century because the algorithm that established the Gregorian calendar dictates that leap years do not occur in years divisible by 100. Jewish law denies the validity of what this algorithm is trying to accomplish and compensates for it by moving the date of the equinox each century. There was no shift between 1909 and 2009, however, because the algorithm states that an exception to this 'divisible by 100' rule is a 'divisible by 400' rule, at which time a leap year will occur even though the year is also divisible by 100; thus, the year 2000 did contain a February 29th and no compensation was necessary. The table at right depicts all the vernal equinoxes from 1981 to 2009, two years in which ''Birchat Hachammah'' occurs; note that the equinox does not occur at sunset (time=0) on the fourth day (Tuesday) in the entire 28 year cycle.

The ''halachic'' year of 365.25 days is equivalent to 52 weeks, 1 day and 6 hours. This means that any given date will appear a day later in the calendar week in a subsequent year. For example:
* July 3, 1932 was on Sunday
* July 3, 1933 was on Monday
* July 3, 1934 was on Tuesday
* July 3, 1935 was on Wednesday
July 3, 1936, however, was on a Friday and not a Thursday because the 6 hours that accrued over each of the four years effectively adds another calendar day (i.e. 6 hours x 4 years = 24 hours = 1 day).

''Halacha'' maintains that the Sun was created in the position of the vernal equinox immediately after sundown on the fourth day of the week of Creation, which is equivalent to sunset on Tuesday of that week. If that is considered time zero (t=0), and subsequent years' vernal equinoxes occur 1 day and 6 hours later, it would appear as follows:
* Year 1: Day 4 at sunset (Tuesday)
* Year 2: Day 5 at midnight (Thursday)
* Year 3: Day 6 at sunrise (Friday)
* Year 4: Day 7 at noon (Saturday)
* Year 5: Day 2 at sunset (Sunday)
* Year 6: Day 3 at midnight (Tuesday)
Every four years sees a jump of an additional day because the four six-hour periods sum to a full day. This is somewhat similar to a solar leap year occurring every 4 years to account for the four quarter days that accrued at a rate of a quarter day per year.

Although the proper time for the blessing would be at sundown on Tuesday April 7th, the Sun is no longer visible at sundown; the blessing is therefor delayed until the following morning.

The 28 year cycle is based on a solar year of 365.25 days, as was accepted by the [[Julian calendar]], which we now know as being only nearly precise. The Julian calendar loses one day of accuracy about every 133 years.

==Order of the service==

No set service existed until the [[Shulchan Aruch]]; since then, various similar religious services have been offered by Rabbi [[Moses Sofer]] and the [[Mishnah Berurah]]. The service generally includes:
*Quotations about the sun from the [[Tanach]]
*Four verses from the Tanakh which spell out the [[Tetragrammaton]]
*Some of [[Babylonian Talmud|Talmud]] [[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]] 59b
*Parts of [[Psalms]] 148 and 90
*The actual blessing recited on natural phenomena (''Baruch Atah...maaseh vereishit'')
*Psalms 121, 8 and 19
*The hymm ''El Adon al kol hama'asim'' (normally part of the ''[[Shabbat]]'' prayer [[Jewish services|services]]).
*[[Aleinu]]
*The mourner's ''[[kaddish]]''

==Occurrences of Birchat Hachammah==
Occurrences in the last 120 years:
* [[Wednesday]], [[April 7]], [[1897]] (5 Nisan 5657)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1925]] (14 Nisan 5685)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1953]] (23 Nisan 5713)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1981]] (4 Nisan 5741)
Birkat HaHammah will occur next on
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[2009]] (14 Nisan 5769)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2037]] (23 Nisan 5797)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2065]] (2 Nisan 5825)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2093]] (12 Nisan 5853)
* Wednesday, [[April 9]], [[2121]] (21 Nisan 5881)

Note: Because the dates for Birchat Hachammah assume a 365.25-day solar year and the [[Julian calendar]] also assumes a 365.25-day solar year, Birchat Hachammah will always fall on [[March 25]] in the Julian calendar. While Birchat Hachammah usually occurs in the Jewish lunar month of ''Nissan'', this is not always the case; it will occur on 29 ''Adar'' II (April 10th) in the year 2233<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1584/zqarc161.html |title=Question 161 - When next will Birkat HaHamah not be recited in the Hebrew month of Nisan? |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1584/ Hebrew Calendar Science and Myths] |date= |author=Remy Landau}}</ref>.

==Lerman's thesis==

Moshe Lerman suggested<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 |title=Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[[Arutz Sheva]] |date=2005-05-08 |author=Moshe Lerman}}</ref> a background to Birchat Hachammah by pointing out a possible connection between the traditional Hebrew dating and the two ''machzorim'' ("cycles") that are observed in Jewish tradition—the "small" 19-year cycle which is the basis of the Jewish calendar, and the "big" 28-year cycle which determines the year in which Birchat Hachammah is recited. Mathematically, if one knows the position of a certain year in both cycles, one can compute the number associated to the year [[modular arithmetic|modulo]] 532 (19 times 28), given that the starting point of both cycles is year 1.

Because the astronomical year is slightly shorter than 365.25 days, the date of Birchat Hachammah shifts away from the spring equinox as history proceeds. A simple astronomical calculation shows that 84 cycles of 28 years before 5769, in the Jewish year 3417, the spring equinox was in the beginning of the night before the fourth day of the week as stipulated by the [[Talmud]]. Lerman takes this as a hint that the astronomically astute Jewish sages of the time concluded that the Jewish year 3417 was a first year in the cycle of 28 years. Moreover, Lerman suggests that these same Jewish sages would have reasoned that year 3421 was a first year in the 19-year cycle, in accordance with an ancient tradition that the world was created in the first week of the month of ''Nissan''. They would have concluded this from the Spring equinox occurring early in the night leading to the fourth day of the Jewish month of ''Nissan'' in the Jewish year 3421.

Lerman surmises that the Jewish sages at the time could argue for a determination of the position of their years in both cycles and could therefore compute the absolute year-count modulo 532 years. They were left with a number of options, 532 years apart from each other, and Lerman suggests that they chose the dating closest to what seemed to be the truth according to a literal interpretation of biblical accounts. The sages legally defined future equinox times by instituting the 28-year cycle, to protect the Hebrew dating against future change, and to leave a remembrance to what they had done.

==References==
<references/>

==Additional refernces==
* Rabbi [[J. David Bleich]]. ''Bircas Hachammah, Blessing of the Sun: Renewal of the Creation: a Halachic Analysis and Anthology''. Brooklyn, N.Y.: [[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications ltd]], 1981. ISBN 0-89906-176-1.
* Lasker, AA and Lasker DJ. ''Birkat Hahammah: The Blessing of the Sun''. Conservative Judaism 1981;34:17–28.
* [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? by Moshe Lerman] — theory about the origins of the Hebrew dating

==External links==
* [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/817861/jewish/Birkat-Hachamah.htm Birchat Hachammah Guide]
* [http://star-k.org/kashrus/kk-BirchasHachama.htm Star-K Online: Halachos of Birchat Hachammah]
* [http://www.easyrashi.com/birkas_hachama/index.html Sun page]
* [http://berachot.org/halacha/24_birkathachammah.html Your Complete Guide to Brochos]
* [http://www.kehillaton.com/en/articles_birkat_hachama.asp?c=1 Comprehensive discussion on Birchat Hachammah at Kehillaton.com]

[[Category:Jewish blessings]]
[[Category:Jewish history]]
[[Category:Hebrew calendar]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Sun]]

[[he:ברכת החמה]]
[[yi:ברכת החמה]]

Birkat ha-Chama

2009-02-17T19:03:18Z

KosherJava: /* Overview */ {{cite web}} template use for Chabad.org ref

'''''Birchat Hachammah''''' (ברכת החמה, "Blessing of the [[Sun]]") refers to a special [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Jewish prayer|blessing]] in that it is recited on the Sun only once every twenty-eight years.

The 28 year period of the [[solar cycle (calendar)|solar cycle]] is known as ''machzor gadol'' (מחזור גדול, "the large cycle"). A solar year is 365.25 days long according the Jewish law and the "Blessing of the Sun" is therefor recited every 10,227 (28 times 365.25) days. The next date of its recital will be on April 8, 2009 (14 ''[[Nisan]]'' [[5769 (Hebrew year)|5769]]).

The same blessing is recited upon experiencing numerous natural phenomena, including but not limited to [[lightning]], [[comets]], [[meteor showers]] and even wonderous natural topography, such as great [[mountain]]s, [[river]]s and vast [[wilderness]]es.<ref>[[Artscroll]] ''Yitzchak Yair Siddur'' page 98</ref> When recited for these other experiences, the blessing is recited alone without additional verses, Psalms or statements relating to the Sun. The text of the blessing itself follows:

:"ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם עשה מעשה בראשית"
:"''Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe who makes the works of Creation.''"

==Codification is Jewish law==
The [[Shulchan Aruch]] states that this blessing, generally said upon experiencing natural phenomena, should also be recited upon witnessing the ''chammah b'tekufatah'' (חמה בתקופתה). This term, quoted from a [[Beraita]], is explained by the [[Chofetz Chaim]] as referring to the point in time at which the Sun returns to the start of its cycle, similar to when it was created.<ref>''[[Orach Chaim]]'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', "''b'tekufatah''"</ref>

As explained below, the blessing is recited on the morning after the Sun completes its cycle; ideally, it should be recited at sunrise,<ref>''Orach Chaim'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''Be'er Heitev'', "''baboker''"</ref> referred to in Jewish law as ''haneitz hahammah'' (הנץ החמה). It is preferred to recite the blessing with a multitude of people, in keeping with the principle of ''[[b'rov am hadrat melech]]''.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> The ''[[Magen Avraham]]'' and the ''[[Levush]]'' insist that it be recited within the first three hours after sunrise.<ref>''[[Be'er Heitev]]''</ref> The ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', however, states on behalf of numerous ''[[Achronim]]'' that it is permitted the blessing to be recited until ''halachic'' noon.<ref>"''Baboker''"</ref>

According to most commentators, the blessing may only be recited if the Sun can be seen.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> If the Sun is completely blocked by clouds, there is a minority view that allows the blessing to be recited nonetheless because it is the essential blessing is on the juxtaposition of the Sun's physical position with the timing of the day.<ref>''[[Chaim Mordechai Margaliot|Shaarei Teshuva]]'', "''baboker''"</ref>

==Overview==
According to the [[Babylonian Talmud]] (tractate ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' 59b), the [[Sun]] makes a 28 year cycle to return to the position that it was in when the Universe was first [[Creation myth|created]]. This is not entirely correct, however; in fact, the Sun takes only one year to return to the same position, hence providing the definition of a solar year.

According to Jewish tradition, the Sun was created<ref>Genesis 1:14 + commentary of [[Rashi]]. Many Biblical commentators, including Rashi, insist that the luminaries were, in fact, created on the first day and only suspended in place on the fourth day.</ref> on ''yom rivi'i'' (יום רביעי, the "fourth day") of the week of Creation. Because Jewish law, known as ''[[halacha]]'', considers the unit of a day to span from evening to evening,<ref>''[[Bavli]]'' ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' 2a</ref> the beginning of the ''halachic'' fourth day, so to speak, is on Tuesday evening at sundown. The 28 year cycle is marking the time it takes for the Sun to return to the position it was in when created at the point in time it was created, namely, Tuesday at sundown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/820926/jewish/Calculating-the-Date.htm |title=Calculating the Date of Birkat Hachamah |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[[Chabad.org]] |date=}}</ref> Although the Sun returns to this position every year, it only returns to this position at sundown on a Tuesday once every 28 years.

==The vernal equinox==
As explained in the [[Talmud]], there is a tradition that the Sun was created in its [[vernal equinox]] position at the beginning of the springtime Jewish [[lunar month]] of ''Nissan''.<ref>''Bavli'' ''[[Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)|Rosh Hashanah]]'' 10b</ref> [[Chazal|The sages of the Talmud]] settled disputes over the ''[[halacha|halachic]]'' definition of the vernal equinox by establishing it on March 25 of the [[Julian calendar]]. Because both the Julian calendar and Jewish tradition define a solar year as exactly 365.25 days, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox historically fell out on March 25th every year.

In summary, ''Birchat Hachammah'' is recited when the vernal equinox (the position at which the Sun was created) occurs at sundown on a Tuesday (the time at which the sun was created).

==The solar calendar==
[[File:Birchat haChammah.jpg|thumb|right|This table gives the weekly calendar day corresponding to the vernal equinox in each year listed; note how the majority appear a day later than the previous year, accounting for the extra day. The right-most column accounts for the extra 6 hours, which only affects the day of the week every fourth year.]]
This method of marking the cycle of ''machzor gadol'' was invalidated in 1582 when the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] by decree of [[Pope Gregory XIII]]. The calendar was adjusted to allow for [[Easter]] to be celebrated in the appropriate time according to an agreement reached at the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 CE. To recalibrate the calendar, two adjustments were made:
# Ten days were removed in order to compensate for the incorporation of excess days since the establishment of the Julian calendar.
# A method to avoid further incorporation of excess days was put into place, whereby February 29th would be skipped according to a particular [[algorithm]].

The last day of the Julian calendar was Thursday, 4 October 1582 and this was followed by the first day of the Gregorian calendar, Friday, 15 October. According to Jewish tradition, though, this modification was unjustified and remains unrecognized by ''halacha'' (Jewish law). Thus, according to ''halacha'', while the vernal equinox occurred on March 25, 1581, it occurred on April 4, 1582 (March 25, 1582 according to Jewish law). In order to compensate for the second modification instituted by the Gregorian calendar, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox has been shifting slightly forward in the year ever since 1582.

* In 1609, the vernal equinox was on April 4 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1709, the vernal equinox was on April 5 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1809, the vernal equinox was on April 6 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1909, the vernal equinox was on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 2009, the vernal equinox will be on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)

The ''halachic'' equinox jumps a day every century because the algorithm that established the Gregorian calendar dictates that leap years do not occur in years divisible by 100. Jewish law denies the validity of what this algorithm is trying to accomplish and compensates for it by moving the date of the equinox each century. There was no shift between 1909 and 2009, however, because the algorithm states that an exception to this 'divisible by 100' rule is a 'divisible by 400' rule, at which time a leap year will occur even though the year is also divisible by 100; thus, the year 2000 did contain a February 29th and no compensation was necessary. The table at right depicts all the vernal equinoxes from 1981 to 2009, two years in which ''Birchat Hachammah'' occurs; note that the equinox does not occur at sunset (time=0) on the fourth day (Tuesday) in the entire 28 year cycle.

The ''halachic'' year of 365.25 days is equivalent to 52 weeks, 1 day and 6 hours. This means that any given date will appear a day later in the calendar week in a subsequent year. For example:
* July 3, 1932 was on Sunday
* July 3, 1933 was on Monday
* July 3, 1934 was on Tuesday
* July 3, 1935 was on Wednesday
July 3, 1936, however, was on a Friday and not a Thursday because the 6 hours that accrued over each of the four years effectively adds another calendar day (i.e. 6 hours x 4 years = 24 hours = 1 day).

''Halacha'' maintains that the Sun was created in the position of the vernal equinox immediately after sundown on the fourth day of the week of Creation, which is equivalent to sunset on Tuesday of that week. If that is considered time zero (t=0), and subsequent years' vernal equinoxes occur 1 day and 6 hours later, it would appear as follows:
* Year 1: Day 4 at sunset (Tuesday)
* Year 2: Day 5 at midnight (Thursday)
* Year 3: Day 6 at sunrise (Friday)
* Year 4: Day 7 at noon (Saturday)
* Year 5: Day 2 at sunset (Sunday)
* Year 6: Day 3 at midnight (Tuesday)
Every four years sees a jump of an additional day because the four six-hour periods sum to a full day. This is somewhat similar to a solar leap year occurring every 4 years to account for the four quarter days that accrued at a rate of a quarter day per year.

Although the proper time for the blessing would be at sundown on Tuesday April 7th, the Sun is no longer visible at sundown; the blessing is therefor delayed until the following morning.

The 28 year cycle is based on a solar year of 365.25 days, as was accepted by the [[Julian calendar]], which we now know as being only nearly precise. The Julian calendar loses one day of accuracy about every 133 years.

==Order of the service==

No set service existed until the [[Shulchan Aruch]]; since then, various similar religious services have been offered by Rabbi [[Moses Sofer]] and the [[Mishnah Berurah]]. The service generally includes:
*Quotations about the sun from the [[Tanach]]
*Four verses from the Tanakh which spell out the [[Tetragrammaton]]
*Some of [[Babylonian Talmud|Talmud]] [[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]] 59b
*Parts of [[Psalms]] 148 and 90
*The actual blessing recited on natural phenomena (''Baruch Atah...maaseh vereishit'')
*Psalms 121, 8 and 19
*The hymm ''El Adon al kol hama'asim'' (normally part of the ''[[Shabbat]]'' prayer [[Jewish services|services]]).
*[[Aleinu]]
*The mourner's ''[[kaddish]]''

==Occurrences of Birchat Hachammah==
Occurrences in the last 120 years:
* [[Wednesday]], [[April 7]], [[1897]] (5 Nisan 5657)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1925]] (14 Nisan 5685)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1953]] (23 Nisan 5713)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1981]] (4 Nisan 5741)
Birkat HaHammah will occur next on
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[2009]] (14 Nisan 5769)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2037]] (23 Nisan 5797)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2065]] (2 Nisan 5825)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2093]] (12 Nisan 5853)
* Wednesday, [[April 9]], [[2121]] (21 Nisan 5881)

Note: Because the dates for Birchat Hachammah assume a 365.25-day solar year and the [[Julian calendar]] also assumes a 365.25-day solar year, Birchat Hachammah will always fall on [[March 25]] in the Julian calendar. While Birchat Hachammah usually occurs in the Jewish lunar month of ''Nissan'', this is not always the case; it will occur on 29 ''Adar'' II (April 10th) in the year 2233<ref name="JewishCalendarScience">[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1584/zqarc161.html Hebrew Calendar Science and Myths, Question 161]</ref>.

==Lerman's thesis==

Moshe Lerman suggested<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 |title=Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[[Arutz Sheva]] |date=2005-05-08 |author=Moshe Lerman}}</ref> a background to Birchat Hachammah by pointing out a possible connection between the traditional Hebrew dating and the two ''machzorim'' ("cycles") that are observed in Jewish tradition—the "small" 19-year cycle which is the basis of the Jewish calendar, and the "big" 28-year cycle which determines the year in which Birchat Hachammah is recited. Mathematically, if one knows the position of a certain year in both cycles, one can compute the number associated to the year [[modular arithmetic|modulo]] 532 (19 times 28), given that the starting point of both cycles is year 1.

Because the astronomical year is slightly shorter than 365.25 days, the date of Birchat Hachammah shifts away from the spring equinox as history proceeds. A simple astronomical calculation shows that 84 cycles of 28 years before 5769, in the Jewish year 3417, the spring equinox was in the beginning of the night before the fourth day of the week as stipulated by the [[Talmud]]. Lerman takes this as a hint that the astronomically astute Jewish sages of the time concluded that the Jewish year 3417 was a first year in the cycle of 28 years. Moreover, Lerman suggests that these same Jewish sages would have reasoned that year 3421 was a first year in the 19-year cycle, in accordance with an ancient tradition that the world was created in the first week of the month of ''Nissan''. They would have concluded this from the Spring equinox occurring early in the night leading to the fourth day of the Jewish month of ''Nissan'' in the Jewish year 3421.

Lerman surmises that the Jewish sages at the time could argue for a determination of the position of their years in both cycles and could therefore compute the absolute year-count modulo 532 years. They were left with a number of options, 532 years apart from each other, and Lerman suggests that they chose the dating closest to what seemed to be the truth according to a literal interpretation of biblical accounts. The sages legally defined future equinox times by instituting the 28-year cycle, to protect the Hebrew dating against future change, and to leave a remembrance to what they had done.

==References==
<references/>

==Additional refernces==
* Rabbi [[J. David Bleich]]. ''Bircas Hachammah, Blessing of the Sun: Renewal of the Creation: a Halachic Analysis and Anthology''. Brooklyn, N.Y.: [[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications ltd]], 1981. ISBN 0-89906-176-1.
* Lasker, AA and Lasker DJ. ''Birkat Hahammah: The Blessing of the Sun''. Conservative Judaism 1981;34:17–28.
* [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? by Moshe Lerman] — theory about the origins of the Hebrew dating

==External links==
* [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/817861/jewish/Birkat-Hachamah.htm Birchat Hachammah Guide]
* [http://star-k.org/kashrus/kk-BirchasHachama.htm Star-K Online: Halachos of Birchat Hachammah]
* [http://www.easyrashi.com/birkas_hachama/index.html Sun page]
* [http://berachot.org/halacha/24_birkathachammah.html Your Complete Guide to Brochos]
* [http://www.kehillaton.com/en/articles_birkat_hachama.asp?c=1 Comprehensive discussion on Birchat Hachammah at Kehillaton.com]

[[Category:Jewish blessings]]
[[Category:Jewish history]]
[[Category:Hebrew calendar]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Sun]]

[[he:ברכת החמה]]
[[yi:ברכת החמה]]

Birkat ha-Chama

2009-02-17T18:57:49Z

KosherJava: /* Lerman's thesis */ changed ref to {{cite web}} template

'''''Birchat Hachammah''''' (ברכת החמה, "Blessing of the [[Sun]]") refers to a special [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Jewish prayer|blessing]] in that it is recited on the Sun only once every twenty-eight years.

The 28 year period of the [[solar cycle (calendar)|solar cycle]] is known as ''machzor gadol'' (מחזור גדול, "the large cycle"). A solar year is 365.25 days long according the Jewish law and the "Blessing of the Sun" is therefor recited every 10,227 (28 times 365.25) days. The next date of its recital will be on April 8, 2009 (14 ''[[Nisan]]'' [[5769 (Hebrew year)|5769]]).

The same blessing is recited upon experiencing numerous natural phenomena, including but not limited to [[lightning]], [[comets]], [[meteor showers]] and even wonderous natural topography, such as great [[mountain]]s, [[river]]s and vast [[wilderness]]es.<ref>[[Artscroll]] ''Yitzchak Yair Siddur'' page 98</ref> When recited for these other experiences, the blessing is recited alone without additional verses, Psalms or statements relating to the Sun. The text of the blessing itself follows:

:"ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם עשה מעשה בראשית"
:"''Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe who makes the works of Creation.''"

==Codification is Jewish law==
The [[Shulchan Aruch]] states that this blessing, generally said upon experiencing natural phenomena, should also be recited upon witnessing the ''chammah b'tekufatah'' (חמה בתקופתה). This term, quoted from a [[Beraita]], is explained by the [[Chofetz Chaim]] as referring to the point in time at which the Sun returns to the start of its cycle, similar to when it was created.<ref>''[[Orach Chaim]]'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', "''b'tekufatah''"</ref>

As explained below, the blessing is recited on the morning after the Sun completes its cycle; ideally, it should be recited at sunrise,<ref>''Orach Chaim'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''Be'er Heitev'', "''baboker''"</ref> referred to in Jewish law as ''haneitz hahammah'' (הנץ החמה). It is preferred to recite the blessing with a multitude of people, in keeping with the principle of ''[[b'rov am hadrat melech]]''.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> The ''[[Magen Avraham]]'' and the ''[[Levush]]'' insist that it be recited within the first three hours after sunrise.<ref>''[[Be'er Heitev]]''</ref> The ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', however, states on behalf of numerous ''[[Achronim]]'' that it is permitted the blessing to be recited until ''halachic'' noon.<ref>"''Baboker''"</ref>

According to most commentators, the blessing may only be recited if the Sun can be seen.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> If the Sun is completely blocked by clouds, there is a minority view that allows the blessing to be recited nonetheless because it is the essential blessing is on the juxtaposition of the Sun's physical position with the timing of the day.<ref>''[[Chaim Mordechai Margaliot|Shaarei Teshuva]]'', "''baboker''"</ref>

==Overview==
According to the [[Babylonian Talmud]] (tractate ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' 59b), the [[Sun]] makes a 28 year cycle to return to the position that it was in when the Universe was first [[Creation myth|created]]. This is not entirely correct, however; in fact, the Sun takes only one year to return to the same position, hence providing the definition of a solar year.

According to Jewish tradition, the Sun was created<ref>Genesis 1:14 + commentary of [[Rashi]]. Many Biblical commentators, including Rashi, insist that the luminaries were, in fact, created on the first day and only suspended in place on the fourth day.</ref> on ''yom rivi'i'' (יום רביעי, the "fourth day") of the week of Creation. Because Jewish law, known as ''[[halacha]]'', considers the unit of a day to span from evening to evening,<ref>''[[Bavli]]'' ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' 2a</ref> the beginning of the ''halachic'' fourth day, so to speak, is on Tuesday evening at sundown. The 28 year cycle is marking the time it takes for the Sun to return to the position it was in when created at the point in time it was created, namely, Tuesday at sundown.<ref>[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/820926/jewish/Calculating-the-Date.htm Calculating the Date of Birkat Hachamah] Why every 28th year? The detailed calculations and explanations. From Chabad.org</ref> Although the Sun returns to this position every year, it only returns to this position at sundown on a Tuesday once every 28 years.

==The vernal equinox==
As explained in the [[Talmud]], there is a tradition that the Sun was created in its [[vernal equinox]] position at the beginning of the springtime Jewish [[lunar month]] of ''Nissan''.<ref>''Bavli'' ''[[Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)|Rosh Hashanah]]'' 10b</ref> [[Chazal|The sages of the Talmud]] settled disputes over the ''[[halacha|halachic]]'' definition of the vernal equinox by establishing it on March 25 of the [[Julian calendar]]. Because both the Julian calendar and Jewish tradition define a solar year as exactly 365.25 days, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox historically fell out on March 25th every year.

In summary, ''Birchat Hachammah'' is recited when the vernal equinox (the position at which the Sun was created) occurs at sundown on a Tuesday (the time at which the sun was created).

==The solar calendar==
[[File:Birchat haChammah.jpg|thumb|right|This table gives the weekly calendar day corresponding to the vernal equinox in each year listed; note how the majority appear a day later than the previous year, accounting for the extra day. The right-most column accounts for the extra 6 hours, which only affects the day of the week every fourth year.]]
This method of marking the cycle of ''machzor gadol'' was invalidated in 1582 when the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] by decree of [[Pope Gregory XIII]]. The calendar was adjusted to allow for [[Easter]] to be celebrated in the appropriate time according to an agreement reached at the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 CE. To recalibrate the calendar, two adjustments were made:
# Ten days were removed in order to compensate for the incorporation of excess days since the establishment of the Julian calendar.
# A method to avoid further incorporation of excess days was put into place, whereby February 29th would be skipped according to a particular [[algorithm]].

The last day of the Julian calendar was Thursday, 4 October 1582 and this was followed by the first day of the Gregorian calendar, Friday, 15 October. According to Jewish tradition, though, this modification was unjustified and remains unrecognized by ''halacha'' (Jewish law). Thus, according to ''halacha'', while the vernal equinox occurred on March 25, 1581, it occurred on April 4, 1582 (March 25, 1582 according to Jewish law). In order to compensate for the second modification instituted by the Gregorian calendar, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox has been shifting slightly forward in the year ever since 1582.

* In 1609, the vernal equinox was on April 4 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1709, the vernal equinox was on April 5 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1809, the vernal equinox was on April 6 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1909, the vernal equinox was on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 2009, the vernal equinox will be on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)

The ''halachic'' equinox jumps a day every century because the algorithm that established the Gregorian calendar dictates that leap years do not occur in years divisible by 100. Jewish law denies the validity of what this algorithm is trying to accomplish and compensates for it by moving the date of the equinox each century. There was no shift between 1909 and 2009, however, because the algorithm states that an exception to this 'divisible by 100' rule is a 'divisible by 400' rule, at which time a leap year will occur even though the year is also divisible by 100; thus, the year 2000 did contain a February 29th and no compensation was necessary. The table at right depicts all the vernal equinoxes from 1981 to 2009, two years in which ''Birchat Hachammah'' occurs; note that the equinox does not occur at sunset (time=0) on the fourth day (Tuesday) in the entire 28 year cycle.

The ''halachic'' year of 365.25 days is equivalent to 52 weeks, 1 day and 6 hours. This means that any given date will appear a day later in the calendar week in a subsequent year. For example:
* July 3, 1932 was on Sunday
* July 3, 1933 was on Monday
* July 3, 1934 was on Tuesday
* July 3, 1935 was on Wednesday
July 3, 1936, however, was on a Friday and not a Thursday because the 6 hours that accrued over each of the four years effectively adds another calendar day (i.e. 6 hours x 4 years = 24 hours = 1 day).

''Halacha'' maintains that the Sun was created in the position of the vernal equinox immediately after sundown on the fourth day of the week of Creation, which is equivalent to sunset on Tuesday of that week. If that is considered time zero (t=0), and subsequent years' vernal equinoxes occur 1 day and 6 hours later, it would appear as follows:
* Year 1: Day 4 at sunset (Tuesday)
* Year 2: Day 5 at midnight (Thursday)
* Year 3: Day 6 at sunrise (Friday)
* Year 4: Day 7 at noon (Saturday)
* Year 5: Day 2 at sunset (Sunday)
* Year 6: Day 3 at midnight (Tuesday)
Every four years sees a jump of an additional day because the four six-hour periods sum to a full day. This is somewhat similar to a solar leap year occurring every 4 years to account for the four quarter days that accrued at a rate of a quarter day per year.

Although the proper time for the blessing would be at sundown on Tuesday April 7th, the Sun is no longer visible at sundown; the blessing is therefor delayed until the following morning.

The 28 year cycle is based on a solar year of 365.25 days, as was accepted by the [[Julian calendar]], which we now know as being only nearly precise. The Julian calendar loses one day of accuracy about every 133 years.

==Order of the service==

No set service existed until the [[Shulchan Aruch]]; since then, various similar religious services have been offered by Rabbi [[Moses Sofer]] and the [[Mishnah Berurah]]. The service generally includes:
*Quotations about the sun from the [[Tanach]]
*Four verses from the Tanakh which spell out the [[Tetragrammaton]]
*Some of [[Babylonian Talmud|Talmud]] [[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]] 59b
*Parts of [[Psalms]] 148 and 90
*The actual blessing recited on natural phenomena (''Baruch Atah...maaseh vereishit'')
*Psalms 121, 8 and 19
*The hymm ''El Adon al kol hama'asim'' (normally part of the ''[[Shabbat]]'' prayer [[Jewish services|services]]).
*[[Aleinu]]
*The mourner's ''[[kaddish]]''

==Occurrences of Birchat Hachammah==
Occurrences in the last 120 years:
* [[Wednesday]], [[April 7]], [[1897]] (5 Nisan 5657)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1925]] (14 Nisan 5685)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1953]] (23 Nisan 5713)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1981]] (4 Nisan 5741)
Birkat HaHammah will occur next on
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[2009]] (14 Nisan 5769)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2037]] (23 Nisan 5797)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2065]] (2 Nisan 5825)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2093]] (12 Nisan 5853)
* Wednesday, [[April 9]], [[2121]] (21 Nisan 5881)

Note: Because the dates for Birchat Hachammah assume a 365.25-day solar year and the [[Julian calendar]] also assumes a 365.25-day solar year, Birchat Hachammah will always fall on [[March 25]] in the Julian calendar. While Birchat Hachammah usually occurs in the Jewish lunar month of ''Nissan'', this is not always the case; it will occur on 29 ''Adar'' II (April 10th) in the year 2233<ref name="JewishCalendarScience">[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1584/zqarc161.html Hebrew Calendar Science and Myths, Question 161]</ref>.

==Lerman's thesis==

Moshe Lerman suggested<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 |title=Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? |accessdate=2009-02-17 |publisher=[[Arutz Sheva]] |date=2005-05-08 |author=Moshe Lerman}}</ref> a background to Birchat Hachammah by pointing out a possible connection between the traditional Hebrew dating and the two ''machzorim'' ("cycles") that are observed in Jewish tradition—the "small" 19-year cycle which is the basis of the Jewish calendar, and the "big" 28-year cycle which determines the year in which Birchat Hachammah is recited. Mathematically, if one knows the position of a certain year in both cycles, one can compute the number associated to the year [[modular arithmetic|modulo]] 532 (19 times 28), given that the starting point of both cycles is year 1.

Because the astronomical year is slightly shorter than 365.25 days, the date of Birchat Hachammah shifts away from the spring equinox as history proceeds. A simple astronomical calculation shows that 84 cycles of 28 years before 5769, in the Jewish year 3417, the spring equinox was in the beginning of the night before the fourth day of the week as stipulated by the [[Talmud]]. Lerman takes this as a hint that the astronomically astute Jewish sages of the time concluded that the Jewish year 3417 was a first year in the cycle of 28 years. Moreover, Lerman suggests that these same Jewish sages would have reasoned that year 3421 was a first year in the 19-year cycle, in accordance with an ancient tradition that the world was created in the first week of the month of ''Nissan''. They would have concluded this from the Spring equinox occurring early in the night leading to the fourth day of the Jewish month of ''Nissan'' in the Jewish year 3421.

Lerman surmises that the Jewish sages at the time could argue for a determination of the position of their years in both cycles and could therefore compute the absolute year-count modulo 532 years. They were left with a number of options, 532 years apart from each other, and Lerman suggests that they chose the dating closest to what seemed to be the truth according to a literal interpretation of biblical accounts. The sages legally defined future equinox times by instituting the 28-year cycle, to protect the Hebrew dating against future change, and to leave a remembrance to what they had done.

==References==
<references/>

==Additional refernces==
* Rabbi [[J. David Bleich]]. ''Bircas Hachammah, Blessing of the Sun: Renewal of the Creation: a Halachic Analysis and Anthology''. Brooklyn, N.Y.: [[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications ltd]], 1981. ISBN 0-89906-176-1.
* Lasker, AA and Lasker DJ. ''Birkat Hahammah: The Blessing of the Sun''. Conservative Judaism 1981;34:17–28.
* [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? by Moshe Lerman] — theory about the origins of the Hebrew dating

==External links==
* [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/817861/jewish/Birkat-Hachamah.htm Birchat Hachammah Guide]
* [http://star-k.org/kashrus/kk-BirchasHachama.htm Star-K Online: Halachos of Birchat Hachammah]
* [http://www.easyrashi.com/birkas_hachama/index.html Sun page]
* [http://berachot.org/halacha/24_birkathachammah.html Your Complete Guide to Brochos]
* [http://www.kehillaton.com/en/articles_birkat_hachama.asp?c=1 Comprehensive discussion on Birchat Hachammah at Kehillaton.com]

[[Category:Jewish blessings]]
[[Category:Jewish history]]
[[Category:Hebrew calendar]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Sun]]

[[he:ברכת החמה]]
[[yi:ברכת החמה]]

Birkat ha-Chama

2009-02-17T03:34:13Z

KosherJava: /* Occurrences */ Nect non-Nisan occurrence

{{underconstruction}}
'''''Birchat Hachammah''''' (ברכת החמה, "Blessing of the [[Sun]]") refers to a special [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Jewish prayer|blessing]] in that it is recited on the Sun only once every twenty-eight years.

The 28 year period of the [[solar cycle (calendar)|solar cycle]] is known as ''machzor gadol'' (מחזור גדול, "the large cycle"). A solar year is 365.25 days long according the Jewish law and the "Blessing of the Sun" is therefor recited every 10,227 (28 times 365.25) days. The next date of its recital will be on April 8, 2009 (14 ''[[Nisan]]'' [[5769 (Hebrew year)|5769]]).

The same blessing is recited upon experiencing numerous natural phenomena, including but not limited to [[lightning]], [[comets]], [[meteor showers]] and even wonderous natural topography, such as great [[mountain]]s, [[river]]s and vast [[wilderness]]es.<ref>[[Artscroll]] ''Yitzchak Yair Siddur'' page 98</ref> When recited for these other experiences, the blessing is recited alone without additional verses, Psalms or statements relating to the Sun. The text of the blessing itself follows:

:"ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם עשה מעשה בראשית"
:"''Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe who makes the works of Creation.''"

==Codification is Jewish law==
The [[Shulchan Aruch]] states that this blessing, generally said upon experiencing natural phenomena, should also be recited upon witnessing the ''chammah b'tekufatah'' (חמה בתקופתה). This term, quoted from a [[Beraita]], is explained by the [[Chofetz Chaim]] as referring to the point in time at which the Sun returns to the start of its cycle, similar to when it was created.<ref>''[[Orach Chaim]]'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', "''b'tekufatah''"</ref>

As explained below, the blessing is recited on the morning after the Sun completes its cycle; ideally, it should be recited at sunrise,<ref>''Orach Chaim'' 229:2 + associated commentary of the ''Be'er Heitev'', "''baboker''"</ref> referred to in Jewish law as ''haneitz hahammah'' (הנץ החמה). It is preferred to recite the blessing with a multitude of people, in keeping with the principle of ''[[b'rov am hadrat melech]]''.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> The ''[[Magen Avraham]]'' and the ''[[Levush]]'' insist that it be recited within the first three hours after sunrise.<ref>''[[Be'er Heitev]]''</ref> The ''[[Mishnah Brurah]]'', however, states on behalf of numerous ''[[Achronim]]'' that it is permitted the blessing to be recited until ''halachic'' noon.<ref>"''Baboker''"</ref>

According to most commentators, the blessing may only be recited if the Sun can be seen.<ref>''Mishnah Brurah'', "''baboker''"</ref> If the Sun is completely blocked by clouds, there is a minority view that allows the blessing to be recited nonetheless because it is the essential blessing is on the juxtaposition of the Sun's physical position with the timing of the day.<ref>''[[Chaim Mordechai Margaliot|Shaarei Teshuva]]'', "''baboker''"</ref>

==Overview==
According to the [[Babylonian Talmud]] (tractate ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' 59b), the [[Sun]] makes a 28 year cycle to return to the position that it was in when the Universe was first [[Creation myth|created]]. This is not entirely correct, however; in fact, the Sun takes only one year to return to the same position, hence providing the definition of a solar year.

According to Jewish tradition, the Sun was created<ref>Genesis 1:14 + commentary of [[Rashi]]. Many Biblical commentators, including Rashi, insist that the luminaries were, in fact, created on the first day and only suspended in place on the fourth day.</ref> on ''yom rivi'i'' (יום רביעי, the "fourth day") of the week of Creation. Because Jewish law, known as ''[[halacha]]'', considers the unit of a day to span from evening to evening,<ref>''[[Bavli]]'' ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]]'' 2a</ref> the beginning of the ''halachic'' fourth day, so to speak, is on Tuesday evening at sundown. The 28 year cycle is marking the time it takes for the Sun to return to the position it was in when created at the point in time it was created, namely, Tuesday at sundown.<ref>[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/820926/jewish/Calculating-the-Date.htm Calculating the Date of Birkat Hachamah] Why every 28th year? The detailed calculations and explanations. From Chabad.org</ref> Although the Sun returns to this position every year, it only returns to this position at sundown on a Tuesday once every 28 years.

==The vernal equinox==
As explained in the [[Talmud]], there is a tradition that the Sun was created in its [[vernal equinox]] position at the beginning of the springtime Jewish [[lunar month]] of ''Nissan''.<ref>''Bavli'' ''[[Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)|Rosh Hashanah]]'' 10b</ref> [[Chazal|The sages of the Talmud]] settled disputes over the ''[[halacha|halachic]]'' definition of the vernal equinox by establishing it on March 25 of the [[Julian calendar]]. Because both the Julian calendar and Jewish tradition define a solar year as exactly 365.25 days, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox historically fell out on March 25th every year.

In summary, ''Birchat Hachammah'' is recited when the vernal equinox (the position at which the Sun was created) occurs at sundown on a Tuesday (the time at which the sun was created).

==The solar calendar==
[[File:Birchat haChammah.jpg|thumb|right|This table gives the weekly calendar day corresponding to the vernal equinox in each year listed; note how the majority appear a day later than the previous year, accounting for the extra day. The right-most column accounts for the extra 6 hours, which only affects the day of the week every fourth year.]]
This method of marking the cycle of ''machzor gadol'' was invalidated in 1582 when the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] by decree of [[Pope Gregory XIII]]. The calendar was adjusted to allow for [[Easter]] to be celebrated in the appropriate time according to an agreement reached at the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 CE. To recalibrate the calendar, two adjustments were made:
# Ten days were removed in order to compensate for the incorporation of excess days since the establishment of the Julian calendar.
# A method to avoid further incorporation of excess days was put into place, whereby February 29th would be skipped according to a particular [[algorithm]].

The last day of the Julian calendar was Thursday, 4 October 1582 and this was followed by the first day of the Gregorian calendar, Friday, 15 October. According to Jewish tradition, though, this modification was unjustified and remains unrecognized by ''halacha'' (Jewish law). Thus, according to ''halacha'', while the vernal equinox occurred on March 25, 1581, it occurred on April 4, 1582 (March 25, 1582 according to Jewish law). In order to compensate for the second modification instituted by the Gregorian calendar, the ''halachic'' vernal equinox has been shifting slightly forward in the year ever since 1582.

* In 1609, the vernal equinox was on April 4 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1709, the vernal equinox was on April 5 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1809, the vernal equinox was on April 6 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 1909, the vernal equinox was on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)
* In 2009, the vernal equinox will be on April 7 (considered March 25 by Jewish law)

The ''halachic'' equinox jumps a day every century because the algorithm that established the Gregorian calendar dictates that leap years do not occur in years divisible by 100. Jewish law denies the validity of what this algorithm is trying to accomplish and compensates for it by moving the date of the equinox each century. There was no shift between 1909 and 2009, however, because the algorithm states that an exception to this 'divisible by 100' rule is a 'divisible by 400' rule, at which time a leap year will occur even though the year is also divisible by 100; thus, the year 2000 did contain a February 29th and no compensation was necessary. The table at right depicts all the vernal equinoxes from 1981 to 2009, two years in which ''Birchat Hachammah'' occurs; note that the equinox does not occur at sunset (time=0) on the fourth day (Tuesday) in the entire 28 year cycle.

The ''halachic'' year of 365.25 days is equivalent to 52 weeks, 1 day and 6 hours. This means that any given date will appear a day later in the calendar week in a subsequent year. For example:
* July 3, 1932 was on Sunday
* July 3, 1933 was on Monday
* July 3, 1934 was on Tuesday
* July 3, 1935 was on Wednesday
July 3, 1936, however, was on a Friday and not a Thursday because the 6 hours that accrued over each of the four years effectively adds another calendar day (i.e. 6 hours x 4 years = 24 hours = 1 day).

''Halacha'' maintains that the Sun was created in the position of the vernal equinox immediately after sundown on the fourth day of the week of Creation, which is equivalent to sunset on Tuesday of that week. If that is considered time zero (t=0), and subsequent years' vernal equinoxes occur 1 day and 6 hours later, it would appear as follows:
* Year 1: Day 4 at sunset (Tuesday)
* Year 2: Day 5 at midnight (Thursday)
* Year 3: Day 6 at sunrise (Friday)
* Year 4: Day 7 at noon (Saturday)
* Year 5: Day 2 at sunset (Sunday)
* Year 6: Day 3 at midnight (Tuesday)
Every four years sees a jump of an additional day because the four six-hour periods sum to a full day. This is somewhat similar to a solar leap year occurring every 4 years to account for the four quarter days that accrued at a rate of a quarter day per year.

Although the proper time for the blessing would be at sundown on Tuesday April 7th, the Sun is no longer visible at sundown; the blessing is therefor delayed until the following morning.

The 28 year cycle is based on a solar year of 365.25 days, as was accepted by the [[Julian calendar]], which we now know as being only nearly precise. The Julian calendar loses one day of accuracy about every 133 years.

==Order of the service==

No set service existed until the [[Shulkhan Arukh]]; since then, various similar religious services have been offered by Rabbi [[Moses Sofer]] and the [[Mishnah Berurah]]. The service generally includes:
*Quotations about the sun from the [[Tanakh]]
*Four verses from the Tanakh which spell out the [[Tetragrammaton]]
*Some of [[Babylonian Talmud|Talmud]] [[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]] 59b
*Parts of [[Psalms]] 148 and 90
*The Blessing of the Sun (''Barukh Atah...maaseh vereishit'')
*Psalms 121, 8 and 19
*The hymm ''El Adon al kol hama'asim'' (normally part of the [[Shabbat]] [[Jewish services|services]]).
*[[Aleinu]]
*The mourner's [[kaddish]]

==Occurrences==
Occurrences in the last 120 years:
* [[Wednesday]], [[April 7]], [[1897]] (5 Nisan 5657)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1925]] (14 Nisan 5685)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1953]] (23 Nisan 5713)
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1981]] (4 Nisan 5741)
Birkat HaHammah will occur next on
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[2009]] (14 Nisan 5769)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2037]] (23 Nisan 5797)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2065]] (2 Nisan 5825)
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2093]] (12 Nisan 5853)
* Wednesday, [[April 9]], [[2121]] (21 Nisan 5881)

Note: Because the dates for Birkat HaHammah assume a 365.25-day solar year and the [[Julian calendar]] also assumes a 365.25-day solar year, Birkat HaHammah will always fall on [[March 25]] in the Julian calendar. While Birkat HaHammah usually occurs in the Jewish month of Nisan, this is not always the case, and it will occur on 29 Adar II (April 10th) in the year 2233<ref name="JewishCalendarScience">[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1584/zqarc161.html Hebrew Calendar Science and Myths, Question 161]</ref>.

==Lerman's thesis==

Moshe Lerman suggested a background to Birkat HaHammah by pointing out a possible connection between the traditional Hebrew dating and the two ''mahzorim'' ("cycles") that are observed in Jewish tradition—the "small" 19-year cycle which is the basis of the Jewish calendar, and the "big" 28-year cycle which determines the year in which Birkat HaHammah is recited. Mathematically, if one knows the position of a certain year in both cycles, one can compute the number associated to the year [[modular arithmetic|modulo]] 532 (19 times 28), given that the starting point of both cycles is year 1.

Because the astronomical year is slightly shorter than 365.25 days, the date of Birkat HaHammah shifts away from the spring equinox as history proceeds. A simple astronomical calculation shows that 84 cycles of 28 years before 5769, in the Jewish year 3417, the spring equinox was in the beginning of the night before the fourth day of the week as stipulated by the Talmud. Lerman takes this as a hint that the astronomically astute Jewish sages of the time concluded that the Jewish year 3417 was a first year in the cycle of 28 years. Moreover, Lerman suggests that these same Jewish sages would have reasoned that year 3421 was a first year in the 19-year cycle, in accordance with an ancient tradition that the world was created in the first week of the month of Nissan. They would have concluded this from the Spring equinox occurring early in the night leading to the fourth day of the Jewish month of Nissan in the Jewish year 3421.

Lerman surmises that the Jewish sages at the time could argue for a determination of the position of their years in both cycles and could therefore compute the absolute year-count modulo 532 years. They were left with a number of options, 532 years apart from each other, and Lerman suggests that they chose the dating closest to what seemed to be the truth according to a literal interpretation of biblical accounts. The sages legally defined future equinox times by instituting the 28-year cycle, to protect the Hebrew dating against future change, and to leave a remembrance to what they had done.

==References==
<references/>

==Additional refernces==
* Rabbi [[J. David Bleich]]. ''Bircas Hachammah, Blessing of the Sun: Renewal of the Creation: a Halachic Analysis and Anthology''. Brooklyn, N.Y.: [[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications ltd]], 1981. ISBN 0-89906-176-1.
* Lasker, AA and Lasker DJ. ''Birkat Hahammah: The Blessing of the Sun''. Conservative Judaism 1981;34:17–28.
* [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? by Moshe Lerman] — theory about the origins of the Hebrew dating

==External links==
* [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/817861/jewish/Birkat-Hachamah.htm Birkat Hachamah Guide]
* [http://star-k.org/kashrus/kk-BirchasHachama.htm Star-K Online: Halachos of Birchas Hachama]
* [http://www.easyrashi.com/birkas_hachama/index.html Sun page]
* [http://berachot.org/halacha/24_birkathachammah.html Your Complete Guide to Brochos]
* [http://www.kehillaton.com/en/articles_birkat_hachama.asp?c=1 Comprehensive discussion on Birkat Hachama at Kehillaton.com]

[[Category:Jewish blessings]]
[[Category:Jewish history]]
[[Category:Hebrew calendar]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Sun]]

[[he:ברכת החמה]]
[[yi:ברכת החמה]]

Birkat ha-Chama

2009-01-20T17:38:35Z

KosherJava: /* External links */ fix display of external links

'''Birkat ha-Hammah''' (ברכת החמה, also: ha-Chamah, Hahammah, Hachammah), is [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] for "The Blessing of the [[Sun]]."

It is a special [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Jewish prayer|prayer]] recited once every twenty-eight years, the period of the [[solar cycle (calendar)|solar cycle]]. Jewish law stipulates that the prayer be said every 10,227 (28 times 365.25) days. The next date set is April 8, 2009 (14 [[Nisan]] [[5769 (Hebrew year)|5769]]).

According to the [[Babylonian Talmud]] (tractate [[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]] 59b), at these times the [[Sun]] returns to the position that it had when the Universe was first [[Creation myth|created]]. The explanation is that if the year were exactly 365.25 days, the Sun's equinox times would be at the same time in the week every 28 years (28 times 0.25 days equals 7 days). The tradition is that the Sun was created in its Spring equinox position, at the first hour of the night before the fourth day of Creation. Whenever the equinox is thought to occur at that same time of the week, the Sun is said to have returned to its original position.

==Order of the service==

No set service existed until the [[Shulkhan Arukh]]; since then, various similar religious services have been offered by Rabbi [[Moses Sofer]] and the [[Mishnah Berurah]]. The service generally includes:
*Quotations about the sun from the [[Tanakh]]
*Four verses from the Tanakh which spell out the [[Tetragrammaton]]
*Some of [[Babylonian Talmud|Talmud]] [[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berachot]] 59b
*Parts of [[Psalms]] 148 and 90
*The Blessing of the Sun (''Barukh Atah...maaseh vereishit'')
*Psalms 121, 8 and 19
*The hymm ''El Adon al kol hama'asim'' (normally part of the [[Shabbat]] [[Jewish services|services]]).
*[[Aleinu]]
*The mourner's [[kaddish]]

==Occurrences==
Occurrences in the last 120 years:
* [[Wednesday]], [[April 7]], [[1897]]
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1925]]
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1953]]
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[1981]]
Birkat HaHammah will occur next on
* Wednesday, [[April 8]], [[2009]]
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2037]]
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2065]]
* Wednesday, April 8, [[2093]]
* Wednesday, [[April 9]], [[2121]]

Note: Because the dates for Birkat HaHammah assume a 365.25-day solar year and the [[Julian calendar]] also assumes a 365.25-day solar year, Birkat HaHammah will always fall on [[March 26]] in the Julian calendar.

==Lerman's thesis==

Moshe Lerman suggested a background to Birkat HaHammah by pointing out a possible connection between the traditional Hebrew dating and the two ''mahzorim'' ("cycles") that are observed in Jewish tradition—the "small" 19-year cycle which is the basis of the Jewish calendar, and the "big" 28-year cycle which determines the year in which Birkat HaHammah is recited. Mathematically, if one knows the position of a certain year in both cycles, one can compute the number associated to the year [[modular arithmetic|modulo]] 532 (19 times 28), given that the starting point of both cycles is year 1.

Because the astronomical year is slightly shorter than 365.25 days, the date of Birkat HaHammah shifts away from the spring equinox as history proceeds. A simple astronomical calculation shows that 84 cycles of 28 years before 5769, in the Jewish year 3417, the spring equinox was in the beginning of the night before the fourth day of the week as stipulated by the Talmud. Lerman takes this as a hint that the astronomically astute Jewish sages of the time concluded that the Jewish year 3417 was a first year in the cycle of 28 years. Moreover, Lerman suggests that these same Jewish sages would have reasoned that year 3421 was a first year in the 19-year cycle, in accordance with an ancient tradition that the world was created in the first week of the month of Nissan. They would have concluded this from the Spring equinox occurring early in the night leading to the fourth day of the Jewish month of Nissan in the Jewish year 3421.

Lerman surmises that the Jewish sages at the time could argue for a determination of the position of their years in both cycles and could therefore compute the absolute year-count modulo 532 years. They were left with a number of options, 532 years apart from each other, and Lerman suggests that they chose the dating closest to what seemed to be the truth according to a literal interpretation of biblical accounts. The sages legally defined future equinox times by instituting the 28-year cycle, to protect the Hebrew dating against future change, and to leave a remembrance to what they had done.

==Books==
* Rabbi [[J. David Bleich]]. ''Bircas Hachammah, Blessing of the Sun: Renewal of the Creation: a Halachic Analysis and Anthology''. Brooklyn, N.Y.: [[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications ltd]], 1981. ISBN 0-89906-176-1.

==References==
* Lasker, AA and Lasker DJ. ''Birkat Hahammah: The Blessing of the Sun''. Conservative Judaism 1981;34:17–28.
* [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5096 Why Do We Live in the Year 5765? by Moshe Lerman] — theory about the origins of the Hebrew dating

==External links==
* [http://star-k.org/kashrus/kk-BirchasHachama.htm Star-K Online: Halachos of Birchas Hachama]
* [http://www.easyrashi.com/PDF/birkashachama.pdf ברכת החמה וספקות אם לברך בשם ומלכות]
* [http://www.easyrashi.com/birkas_hachama/index.html Sun page]
* [http://berachot.org/halacha/24_birkathachammah.html Your Complete Guide to Brochos]
* [http://www.kehillaton.com/en/articles_birkat_hachama.asp?c=1 Comprehensive discussion on Birkat Hachama at Kehillaton.com]
* [http://www.kehillaton.com/en/docs/birkat_hachama.pdf Downloadable Prayer Service for Birkat Hachama]

[[Category:Jewish blessings]]
[[Category:Jewish history]]
[[Category:Hebrew calendar]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Sun]]

[[he:ברכת החמה]]

Szmalcownik

2008-02-14T01:39:49Z

KosherJava: cite book template for Grabowski ref

'''Szmalcownik''' ({{IPA2|ʂmal 'ʦɔv ɲik}}) is a [[pejorative]] [[Polish language|Polish]] [[slang]] word used during [[World War II]] that denoted a person [[blackmail]]ing hiding [[Jews]] or blackmailing [[Poles]] who protected Jews during the [[Nazi occupation of Poland|Nazi occupation]]<ref name="Grabowski">{{cite book |last= Jan |first=Grabowski |title= "Ja tego żyda znam!" : szantażowanie żydów w Warszawie, 1939-1943 / "I know this Jew!": Blackmailing of the Jews in Warsaw 1939-1945 |url= http://www.holocaustresearch.pl/publikacje(en).htm |year= 2004 |publisher=Wydawn. IFiS PAN : Centrum Badań nad Zagładą Żydów |location=[[Warsaw]], Poland |language=Polish |isbn=8373880585 |oclc=60174481 }}</ref>. The [[Polish Secret State]] considered ''szmalcownictwo'' an act of [[collaborationism|collaboration]] with the German occupiers. [[Armia Krajowa]] punished it with the death sentence as a criminal act of [[treason]]. [[Polski Komitet Wyzwolenia Narodowego]] by his decree of [[August 31]] [[1944]] also condemned this act as collaboration with [[Nazi Germany]]. This decree is still a valid law in Poland and person who during the war committed an act of ''szmalcownictwo'' faces [[life imprisonment]].

Blackmailers (szmalcowniks) were plentiful in Warsaw, sometimes gangs of them. [[Gunnar S. Paulsson]] estimates that their total numbers, however, were relatively small, "1 or 2 percent" of all Warsaw Poles (p. 113). The damage that these criminals did, however, was substantial. Most were interested in money. By stripping Jews of assets needed for food and bribes, harassing rescuers, raising the overall level of insecurity, and forcing hidden Jews to seek out safer accommodations, blackmailers added significantly to the danger Jews faced and increased their chances of getting caught and killed.

The blackmailers were both of Polish and Jewish ethnicity.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Collaboration during World War II]]
*[[Jewish Ghetto Police]]
*[[Żagiew]]

==Further reading==
* Gunnar S. Paulsson. ''Secret City: The Hidden Jews of Warsaw, 1940-1945''. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0-300-09546-3, [http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=252691081495762 Review]

[[Category:Collaboration during World War II]]

{{Poland-hist-stub}}

[[pl:szmalcownik]]