Birchas HaChammah

We are all hearing about Birchas Hachammah, a rare event that only occurs once every 28 years. What exaclty is Birchas Hachammah? Where are its sources in ther Torah, and what do we need to know about it Halachically?

The Gemarah in Brachos discusses different Brachos that one makes when he experiences different things. A Baraisah is quoted that discusses one such Bracha which is made when one sees the Sun in its Tekufah. Abaye explains that the Gemarah means that when the Sun is in the same position it was in at Maaseh Bereishis, it is back in its originial Tekufah. This happens once every 28 years (contrary to popular belief, it isn't true that Birchas Hachammah fell out on Erev Pesach only 3 times in history before this year).

The Yerushalmi has a very different take on the Baraisah in Brachos. The Yerushalmi understands the Gemarah to mean that if one sees the sun for the first time in a while, he should make the Bracha of Oseh Ma'aseh Bereishis. In other words, if it is very cloudy for s given amount of time, and then the sun comes out, a Bracha should be said upon seeing the sun. One Girsa says it is enough to not see the sun for 3 days in order to say the Bracha, while another Girsa says the time is 30 days. (Many Acharonim explain that the reason behind the time of 3 days is that it took 3 days before the sun was created). Both the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch pasken like Abaye in the Talmud Bavli, and this is how we are noheig.

When does one say Birchas Hachammah? The Rambam (Hilchos Tefilah 10:18) states that one should say it "BaBoker," "in the morning." The Magen Avraham understands this to be referring to the first 3 hours of the day. The Noda B'Yehuda disagrees with the Magen Avraham, and states that the Rambam wasn't necessarily saying it must be done in the morning, rather the Rambam meant to say that one should do it as soon as he can: Zerizin Makdimin L'Mitzvos. However, the Rambam would admit that it would be ok to say Birchas Hachammah even until Chatzos. The Mishnah Berurah records this Machlokes, but leaves it hanging.

What should one do if it is cloudy outside? Some Brachos were instituted to be said when one goes through an experience, or performs an action, while other Brachos were instituted on an event. Does one need to see the sun in order to say Birchas Hachammah, or can one say it since it is atleast shining in other parts of the world? The Panim Meiros believes that one need not see the sun in order to say the Bracha. The Chasam Sofer writes that in 1785, his first Birchas Hachammah, he was being meshamesh his Rebbe, Rav Nosson Adler, and they were waiting for the sun to come out to say Birchas Hachammah. It was a cloudy day, but once R' Adler saw the outline of the sun, he said the Bracha. The Chasam Sofer writes that he learned frmo his Rebbe not to say the Bracha until one sees it himself. Some Poskim mantain that if it is cloudy, one can say Birchas Hachammah without the Shem Malchus.

Thought: What occurs more often, Birchas Hachammah or a Blue Moon?