Anonymous

Birkat Halevana: Difference between revisions

From Halachipedia
no edit summary
No edit summary
Line 2: Line 2:
[[Image:Moon.jpg|right|200px]]
[[Image:Moon.jpg|right|200px]]
Upon seeing the moon at the beginning of the month one says a blessing called Birkat HaLevana (for the details and text see below). What's the significance of this Bracha? The Gemara Sanhedrin 42a says that saying Birkat HaLavana is like greeting the Shechina. Beiur Halacha 426:2 explains that by seeing the moon fulfill its mission consistently we recognize Hashem’s might and control over nature. He adds that to emphasize that we only pray to Hashem and the moon is just a tool by which we can recognize Hashem’s strength we say Aleinu afterwards. (See note for more about the significance of this Bracha.) <ref> Why did Chazal choose to make this Bracha on the moon specifically? Aruch HaShulchan 426:2 explains that since the moon is the closest to Earth we are able to recognize Hashem’s control over nature easily. Also, the moon is compared to Bnei Yisrael; just as the moon doesn’t have any of its own light, so too Bnei Yisrael are only sustained through Hashem and his Torah; just as the moon gets smaller and bigger, so too Bnei Yisrael are always renewed. </ref>
Upon seeing the moon at the beginning of the month one says a blessing called Birkat HaLevana (for the details and text see below). What's the significance of this Bracha? The Gemara Sanhedrin 42a says that saying Birkat HaLavana is like greeting the Shechina. Beiur Halacha 426:2 explains that by seeing the moon fulfill its mission consistently we recognize Hashem’s might and control over nature. He adds that to emphasize that we only pray to Hashem and the moon is just a tool by which we can recognize Hashem’s strength we say Aleinu afterwards. (See note for more about the significance of this Bracha.) <ref> Why did Chazal choose to make this Bracha on the moon specifically? Aruch HaShulchan 426:2 explains that since the moon is the closest to Earth we are able to recognize Hashem’s control over nature easily. Also, the moon is compared to Bnei Yisrael; just as the moon doesn’t have any of its own light, so too Bnei Yisrael are only sustained through Hashem and his Torah; just as the moon gets smaller and bigger, so too Bnei Yisrael are always renewed. </ref>
==Basics==
==Basics==
# One is obligated to make the bracha of [[Kiddish]] HaChodesh which begins Baruch Atta Hashem... Asher BeMaamaro Bara Shechakim. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 426:1 </ref> The bracha is made while standing.<ref>Gemara Sanhedrin 42a, Rama 426:1</ref>
# One is obligated to make the bracha of [[Kiddish]] Levana which begins Baruch Atta Hashem... Asher BeMaamaro Bara Shechakim. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 426:1 </ref> The bracha is made while standing.<ref>Gemara Sanhedrin 42a, Rama 426:1</ref>
# The bracha is made immediately upon seeing the moon and during the bracha and afterwards some say that one shouldn't look at the moon.<ref>Mishna Brurah 425:13 citing the Magen Avraham</ref>
# The bracha is made immediately upon seeing the moon and during the bracha and afterwards some say that one shouldn't look at the moon.<ref>Mishna Brurah 425:13 citing the Magen Avraham</ref>
# For the Ashkenazic text [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tefila.org%2Fimages%2Fstories%2Fbirkon%2Flevana-e1.pdf click here (from Tefilah.org)]. For the Sephardic text [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tefila.org%2Fimages%2Fstories%2Fbirkon%2Flevana-s1.pdf click here (from Tefilah.org)].
# For the Ashkenazic text [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tefila.org%2Fimages%2Fstories%2Fbirkon%2Flevana-e1.pdf click here (from Tefilah.org)]. For the Sephardic text [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tefila.org%2Fimages%2Fstories%2Fbirkon%2Flevana-s1.pdf click here (from Tefilah.org)].