Community Magazine March 2009

The T op 10 Jewish Laws & Sephardic Customs of Unique & Timely Blessings BIRKAT HAHAMA 1 Once every twenty-eight years, when the sun’s position in relation to the earth is the same as it was at the time of creation, we recite a beracha called birkat hahama . This phenomenon will occur this year, on Erev Pesah (April 8, 2009). Ideally, one should pray shaharit that day at netz (sunrise) and recite the beracha with the congregation, though it is permissible to recite this beracha even without a minyan . Hacham Ovadia Yosef, shelit”a , maintains that both men and women recite birkat hahama . One recites the full text of the beracha only if he can see the silhouette of the sun. If clouds cover the sun but one can see its rays, he must omit Gd’s Name from the beracha . If he recited the beracha in this fashion and later the sun became visible, he may repeat the beracha with its full text. One may even interrupt his recitation of shema to say the beracha with Gd’s name if the clouds temporarily disperse on an overcast day. A blind person does not recite this beracha ; he should instead endeavor to hear the hazan ’s recitation and then answer “ Amen .” The beracha is customarily followed by Alenu . One should try not to bow toward the sun while reciting, “ va’anahnu mishtahavim… ” BIRKAT HA’ILANOT 2 One recites a beracha called “ birkat ha’ilanot ” upon seeing fruit-bearing trees in bloom during the month of Nissan: “ Baruch Ata Hashem…shelo hiser be’olamo kelum u’vara vo beriyot tovot ve’ilanot tovot lehanot bahem bene adam .” Some recite special prayers in conjunction with this beracha . One who did not recite this beracha during Nissan may recite it thereafter, but without Gd’s name. Ideally, one should recite the beracha with a minyan , though it may be recited privately, as well. Different views exist concerning a woman’s recitation of this beracha ; Kabbalistic tradi- tion teaches that women should not recite birkat ha’ilanot . SEEINGTHESITEOFAMIRACLE 3 One who comes upon a place where he experienced a supernatural occurrence must recite the beracha , “ Baruch Ata Hashem…she’asa li nes bamakom hazeh .” If the miracle he experienced could be explained within the framework of natural circumstances, he recites the beracha without mentioning Gd’s name. One who sees the site of a supernatural occurrence that occurred to his ancestors must recite the beracha , “ She’asa nisim la’avotenu bamakom hazeh .” This beracha is recited also upon seeing sites of miracles that occurred to the entire Jewish nation, such upon seeing the walls of Yericho. SEEING CREATURES 4 One who sees an elephant or monkey for the first time in his life must recite the beracha , “ Baruch Ata Hashem…meshaneh haberiyot .” According to Hacham Ovadia Yosef, shelit”a , one should recite this beracha whenever he sees these animals after having not seen them in thirty days or more. 52 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE