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This year, 2009, on 14 Nissan, (April 8), marks the anniversary of Hashem's placing of the sun in its position in the heavens.  We say a special blessing, called Birkas Hachamah, that we only get to say every 28 years.  Here are basic halachos for this blessing taken from the book, "One in 28 years" by Rabbi Moshe Goldberger.

The Blessing

The beracha "Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Oseh Ma'asei Veraishis" is recited ideally with a multitude of people.

On a clear day, the custom is to recite the beracha after shacharis (morning prayers), however, the best time to say the beracha is at sunrise.

On a cloudy day, if a person sees the sun earlier than he would with a minyan, he should recite the beracha immediately, evey by himself.

If a person is unable to say the beracha at sunrise, he may say it until chatzos, noon.  After chatzos, one may only say the beracha without Hashem's Name.

It is permitted to say the blessing indoors, as long as the sun can be viewed from the window.

Women and Children

Many poskim rule that women may recite the blessing if they wish to, but there should not be any mingling between men and women.

Children should be trained to say the blessing from the age of chinuch, which is six or seven years and up.

The Blind

The Kaf HaChaim rules that a blind person should not say the blessing, but he can be included in the blessing of another non-blind person, provided that the person has the blind person in mind and the listener answers "Amen".

The Service

The Birkas Hachamah service consists of the following:

• Tehillim 148
• Oseh Ma'asei Verashis
• Keil Adon
• Tehillim 19
• Aleinu
• Kaddish (in a minyan)
  

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