Thursday, April 2, 2009

Text for Birkat HaChama

Rabbi Yisroel Yosef Cyprys just left a comment with a link to his excellent one-page PDF file with the text for the Birkat HaChama (AKA Birkas HaHama) ceremony. This is the full text in English and Hebrew including the actual Bracha in Transliteration (Hebrew with English letters).

It is available here: http://blessing-on-the-sun.weebly.com

He also has a very good "how to" page with clear explanations of the customs and laws in accordance with Chabad minhagim.

Rabbi Cyprys text is somewhat shorter than the PDF file put together by www.kehillaton.com

Interestingly, Rabbi Cyprys' Printout includes the Shecheyanu Bracha, the Printout from Kehillaton doesn't. Whether Shecheyanu should be recited is a machloket, and you should consult your own minhag or halachic authoity.
(for a discussion of this issue, see The Rebbetzin's Husband.)

Finally, if you want to see what what the "Blessing the Sun" ceremony looked like 28 years ago, Gruntig has a video of Birkas hachamah with Viznitzer Rebbe and with the Lubavitcher Rebbe זצ"ל.

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