Halocho #2408 - Sky gazing

When seeing comets or falling stars one says the Bracha of "Oseh Ma'aseh Breishith" - "Who makes the work of creation".

 ברוך אתה ה' א-לקינו מלך העולם

 עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית

The Bracha on falling stars can only be said once per night even if one sees different meteors every time.

One can only say the Bracha once per comet, unless 30 days have passed since one last saw it.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:2

עַל הַזִּיקִים, וְהוּא כּוֹכָב הַיּוֹרֶה כַּחֵץ בְּאֹרֶךְ הַשָּׁמַיִם מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם, וְנִמְשָׁךְ אוֹרוֹ כְּשֵׁבֶט, וְעַל הַכּוֹכָב שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ זָנָב וְשֵׁבֶט שֶׁל אוֹרָה, וְעַל רְעִידַת הָאָרֶץ, וְעַל רוּחוֹת שֶׁנָּשְׁבוּ בְּזַעַף, וְעַל הַבְּרָקִים, עַל כָּל אַחַת מֵאֵלּוּ מְבָרֵךְ, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית. 

וְאֵינוֹ מְבָרֵךְ עַל הַזִּיקִים, כִּי אִם פַּעַם אַחַת בַּלַּיְלָה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁרָאָה עוֹד כּוֹכָב אַחֵר רָץ. 

וְעַל הַכּוֹכָב שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ זָנָב, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבֵּרַךְ עָלָיו, אֵינוֹ מְבָרֵךְ עוֹד, אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁלֹּא רָאָהוּ עַד לְאַחַר שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. 

- Danny

Wednesday, 7 Iyar 5784 - 22nd day of the Omer

 Please daven for the full recovery of the seriously wounded soldier

 מֹשֶׁה אַהֲרֹן בֶּן לֵאָה בֵּילָא 

לרפואה שלמה

Halocho #593 - Sky gazing

When seeing comets or falling stars one says the Bracha of "Oseh Ma'aseh Breishith" - "Who makes the work of creation".

 ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם

 עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית

The Bracha on falling stars can only be said once per night even if one sees different meteors every time.

One can only say the Bracha once per comet, unless 30 days have passed since one last saw it.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:2

- Danny
Sunday, 8 Tamuz 5770

Halocho # 465 -When should one light the Chanukah Menorah

During the week, the correct time to light the Chanukah Menorah is when the stars appear (about 18 minutes after sunset).

One should light as close to this time as possible, however if one cannot light then, one may light later, as long as some other member of the household is still awake.

If nobody is awake anymore, one lights without a Bracha.

If one cannot light on time, one can already light - with a Bracha - from Plag HaMincha; 75 Halachic minutes before sunset. (Divide the daytime hours by 12 to get a Halachic hour.)

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:10

Many have the custom to light the Chanukah Menorah at sunset.

Source: Mishna Berura 676:11

- Danny
Monday, 20 Kislev 5770

Halocho #290 A rare Mitzvah: once every 28 years

In the Gemara in Brachot (59b) we learn: "When seeing the sun at its Tekufah, the moon at its strength, the stars in their paths, and the Zodiacal constellations in their order, one says Blessed be the Maker of creation. " "And when does this happen? " "Abaye said: Every 28 years when the cycle begins again and the Nisan equinox falls into Saturn on the evening of Tuesday, going into Wednesday." As recorded in the Chumash, the sun was created on Wednesday - and every 28 years it returns to the same spot. You can read more about it at http://www.answers.com/topic/birkat-hahammah This year on Wednesday Erev Pessach (8 April 2009) is the 206th time the sun will be back at its original location. There's an entire order-of-prayer that is traditionally said and can be found at http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/pdf/pdf93/birkatHamaA.pdf At the very least one should say the following Bracha when first seeing the sun on Wednesday, Erev Pessach (8 April 2009)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית

The Bracha said as early as possible after sunrise, and cannot be said after noon. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:6, 7 - Danny Monday, 20 Adar 5769 Note: Birkat Hachama happened on Erev Pessach 3 cycles ago - in 1925 - and many years ago in 1309. The year we left Egypt (2447) and the miracle of Purim (3403) were not Birkat Hachama years. All this despite the claims of the Qadosh Elyon and emails to the contrary.

Halocho #222- How long must the Chanukah Menorah burn?

On weekdays the Chanukah lights should be lit at nightfall and should be able to burn for at least 30 minutes. Chanukah lights can already be lit from Plag HaMincha (75 Halachic minutes before nightfall). At Chanukah time in the Northern Hemisphere this may be as short as 50 minutes before nightfall. (Try http://tinyurl.com/luach to get your local time.) Even when lighting earlier, the Menorah has to burn until 30 minutes after nightfall. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:10 There are 2 opinions regarding nightfall: Some say it refers to dusk, other say it refers to 3 stars appearing (like Motzai Shabbat). Everybody should follow their family custom. - Danny Tuesday, 12 Kislev 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #207 - Sky gazing

When seeing comets or falling stars one says the Bracha of "Baruch... Oseh Ma'aseh Breishith" - "... Who makes the work of creation". ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית The Bracha on falling stars can only be said once per night even of one sees different meteors every time. One can only say the Bracha once per comet, unless 30 days have passed since one last saw it. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:2 - Danny Tuesday, 20 Marcheshvan 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה