A Jewish Holiday, Once Every 28 Years
The astronomical metrics of Shmuel are by now considered inexact, but close enough so that the religious tradition persists, so that Jews like Rabbi Bleich believe that the sun next Wednesday occupies the same location in the firmament as it did when it was formed on the fourth day of Creation, which would have been Wednesday, March 26, of the Hebrew year 1, otherwise known as 3760 B.C.
While Birchat HaChammah is intermittent, Rabbi Bleich’s interest in it is constant. He stands as one of the worldwide authorities on the blessing and holiday, the author of the definitive English-language book on the subject, “Bircas HaChammah.” (Transliteration of Hebrew is more inexact than Shmuel’s astronomy.)
Read entire article at NYT Week in Review
While Birchat HaChammah is intermittent, Rabbi Bleich’s interest in it is constant. He stands as one of the worldwide authorities on the blessing and holiday, the author of the definitive English-language book on the subject, “Bircas HaChammah.” (Transliteration of Hebrew is more inexact than Shmuel’s astronomy.)