Every twenty-eight years, on April 8, the sun returns to the position in which it was placed at the time of creation. Upon seeing this phenomenon, we recite a special Beracha called Birkat Ha’hama. This event will occur this year (5769/2009), on Erev Pesah.
Is it permissible to eat in the morning before reciting Birkat Ha’hama? Halacha forbids eating before praying Shaharit in the morning, but once a person completed Shaharit on the morning of Birkat Ha’hama, must he immediately go outside to see the sun and recite the Beracha, or is he allowed to first have something to eat?
This question was addressed by Rav Betzalel Stern in his work Besel Hahochma (5:29). He notes that if a person prays with a Minyan, and the congregation proceeds immediately after Shaharit to recite Birkat Ha’hama, then he should certainly join them. It would be inappropriate to leave the Minyan to eat instead of performing the Misva with them, as a public performance of a Misva lends honor and glory to the Misva.
The more complex question, however, arises in a case where clouds cover the sun after the congregation completed the Shaharit service, and they are waiting for the clouds to dissipate. Are they allowed to eat in the interim, or must they refrain from eating until they can recite the Beracha or until after three hours into the day, at which point Birkat Ha’hama may no longer be recited?
Rav Stern raises arguments in favor of both sides of the issue. On the one hand, Halacha generally forbids eating within a half-hour of when a Misva is to be performed. On the evening before Erev Pesah, for example, one may not eat within a half-hour of the time when Bedikat Hametz (the search for Hametz) must be conducted. Seemingly, then, since the clouds could dissipate at any moment, one is considered to be within a half-hour of the Misva, and he therefore must refrain from eating. On the other hand, one could argue that since one has no way of knowing when the clouds will dissipate, this prohibition should not apply, and one may eat before performing the Misva.
Furthermore, Rav Stern notes, it is not entirely clear whether reciting Birkat Ha’hama constitutes an outright obligation in the first place. The Talmud introduces this Halacha by stating that "one who sees the sun" in its original position must recite the Beracha, perhaps suggesting that there is no requirement to make a point of seeing the sun so one can recite the Beracha. Indeed, the Talmud establishes that "one who sees the Mediterranean Sea" must recite a special Beracha, and this clearly does not mean that all Jews must go look at the Mediterranean Sea so they can recite this Beracha. Similarly, then, one might contend that there is no strict obligation of Birkat Ha’hama, in which case there is certainly no prohibition against eating before reciting the Beracha.
Rav Stern does not reach a definitive conclusion on this issue. It should be noted, however, that even when Halacha clearly forbids eating before performing a Misva, this applies only to eating a substantial meal. Thus, in the situation where a congregation waits for the clouds to dissipate to recite Birkat Ha’hama, they may certainly eat and drink something small in the interim, such as some cake, cereal and the like. And, as mentioned, one can recite Birkat Ha’hama only within the first three hours of the day, so if the sun does not appear by that point, then obviously one can eat a regular, proper meal, since in any event he can no longer perform the Misva.
This question becomes further complicated this year, when Birkat Ha’hama is to be recited on Erev Pesah. Generally, the Shaharit service on Erev Pesah is immediately followed by a Siyum celebration to allow the Bechorim (firstborn) – who must otherwise observe a fast on Erev Pesah – to eat. Should the Siyum be conducted immediately after Shaharit, as is done on an ordinary Erev Pesah, or should the congregation first go outside to recite Birkat Ha’hama before the Siyum?
If the sun is visible when the congregation completes the Shaharit service, then they should proceed immediately to recite Birkat Ha’hama, in order to take advantage of the sun’s visibility. Furthermore, since the majority of the congregation are not firstborns, they should not be forced to delay their recitation of Birkat Ha’hama in deference to the firstborn. If, however, clouds cover the sun, then the Siyum should be held in the meantime while the congregation waits for the clouds to dissipate, and everyone may eat a light snack, which, as mentioned earlier, is certainly permissible before reciting Birkat Ha’hama.
Summary: On Erev Pesah of this year (5769/2009), one should recite Birkat Ha’hama upon viewing the sun in the morning, preferably together with the congregation. If the sun is visible after the Shaharit service, the congregation should proceed immediately outside to view the sun and recite the Beracha. If the sun is not visible, then the Siyum should be conducted for the firstborn while the congregation waits for the clouds to dissipate, and everyone may then eat a light breakfast. One should preferably not eat a substantial meal until either he recites Birkat Ha’hama, or until the third hour of the day, at which point one can no longer recite the Beracha.
