Birkat Ha’hama is recited once every twenty-eight years, on the day when the sun returns to the original position in which it was placed at the time of creation. It may be recited that day from sunrise until the end of three hours (as defined by Halacha) into the day. This Beracha will be recited this year (5769/2009), on Erev Pesah (April 8). Sunrise in New York City that day occurs at approximately 6:28, and the third hour ends at approximately 9:43 AM.
If a person is ill, Heaven forbid, on the day when Birkat Ha’hama is recited, and he cannot leave his home, he may look at the sun through his window and then recite the Beracha indoors. A bedridden patient may even recite the Beracha lying down upon seeing the sun from the window. This is the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Yehave Da’at (vol. 4, 18:11).
One who is aboard an airplane at the time of Birkat Ha’hama, and will be unable to recite the Beracha after the flight, may recite the Beracha from the plane after viewing the sun from the window. In fact, it is recorded that once, when it was cloudy on the day of Birkat Ha’hama, the Rebbe of Satmar once advised his Hassidim to take a flight so they could see the sun over the clouds, and thus be able to recite the Beracha.
A mourner, Heaven forbid, is obligated to recite Birkat Ha’hama. Although mourners generally should not leave their homes during the seven days of mourning, a mourner may leave his home to recite Birkat Ha’hama. He should not, however, recite the verses and chapters of Tehillim that normally accompany Birkat Ha’hama, as a mourner is forbidden from studying Torah. An Onen (a person whose relative has just passed away but has yet to be interred) is absolved from all Misvot, and therefore he does not recite Birkat Ha’hama. This is the ruling of Rav Yaakov Haim Sofer (1870-1939), in his Kaf Ha’haim (229:8), and of Rav Haim Palachi (1788-1869), in his Ru’ah Haim. If, however, the burial took place before the end of the third hour of the day, then the mourner should recite the Beracha after the burial.
Summary: Birkat Ha’hama must be recited between sunrise and the end of the third hour of the day (as defined by Halacha). If necessary, one may recite the Beracha indoors and even on an airplane, after seeing the sun from a window. A mourner is obligated to recite Birkat Ha’hama, and he may leave his home for this purpose.
