{"id":679,"date":"2013-08-15T20:39:19","date_gmt":"2013-08-15T20:39:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.star-k.org\/articles\/?p=679"},"modified":"2018-12-05T16:54:14","modified_gmt":"2018-12-05T16:54:14","slug":"birchas-hachama-5769","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.star-k.org\/articles\/kashrus-kurrents\/679\/birchas-hachama-5769\/","title":{"rendered":"Birchas Hachama 5769"},"content":{"rendered":"

Published Winter 2008<\/em><\/p>\n

To hear a comprehensive shiur on Birchas Hachama, click here.<\/a>
\nListen to a teleconference interview about Birchas Hachama, click here.<\/a><\/strong><\/i><\/b>
\nTo see Sefer Shaarai Zmannim referenced in this article, click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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If one would visit the numerous day schools, chadarim<\/em>, mesivtos<\/em> and batei midrashim<\/em> throughout the world, one would find that every child, almost every bochur <\/em>and most Kollel Yungeleit<\/em> have never performed the mitzvah<\/em> of reciting Birchas Hachama<\/em> (the blessing of the sun).\u00a0 This is because this mitzvah<\/em> is performed only once every 28 years.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The last time it was recited was in 5741 (1981) and b\u2019ezras Hashem<\/em> the next time will be this coming Erev Pesach<\/em>, 5769 – Wednesday April 8, 2009.\u00a0 What is this special mitzvah<\/em> and why is it recited so infrequently? <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

I. Birchas Hachama<\/span><\/em> \u2013 A Simple Explanation<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Amorah\u00a0 <\/em>(Talmudic<\/em> scholar), Abaye<\/em>, said1<\/a><\/sup> that every time that \u201cTekufas Nissan<\/em>\u201d (the beginning of spring, as calculated by Chazal<\/em>) occurs at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening (when the halachic<\/em> day of Wednesday begins) one should go outside the next morning and recite the brocha,<\/em> \u201cOsei maaseh braishis.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 This occurs once every 28 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

II. The Halachos<\/em><\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

On Wednesday morning (the day after Tekufas Nissan<\/em>), one goes outside and quickly gazes towards the sun and says, \u201cBaruch atah Hashem Elokainu Melech haolam oseh maaseh braishis<\/em>,\u201d \u2013 \u201cBlessed are You, Hashem, <\/em>our G-d, King of the universe, Who re-enacts the structure of the creation.2<\/a><\/sup> Additional tefillos<\/em> praising the Ribono Shel Olam<\/em> are also recited. Before the bracha<\/em> Hallelu es Hashem min Hashamayim<\/em>3<\/a><\/sup> is recited.\u00a0 After the bracha<\/em> Kail Adon<\/em>,4<\/a><\/sup> Mizmor<\/em> HaShamayim Mesaprim<\/em>5<\/a><\/sup> and Aleinu<\/em>6<\/a><\/sup>are recited.\u00a0 If there is a minyan<\/em>, Kaddish<\/em>7<\/a><\/sup> is recited after Aleinu<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ideally, Birchas Hachama<\/em> should be recited before the third hour of the day.8<\/a><\/sup> B\u2019dieved,<\/em> one has until chatzos<\/em> (midday) to recite Birchas Hachama<\/em>.\u00a0 It is preferably recited while standing – \u201cb\u2019rov am<\/em>\u201d, with a group of other people.9<\/a><\/sup> Women and children should recite the bracha<\/em>, as well.\u00a0 A blind person should be yotzai<\/em> (fulfill his obligation) through hearing someone else make the bracha<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

If it is cloudy, the following halachos<\/em> apply:\u00a0 If one can see the lines of the sun behind the clouds, one may say Birchas Hachama<\/em>.\u00a0 If it is so cloudy that the sun is not visible, one may not say Birchas Hachama<\/em> with the name of Hashem<\/em>.10<\/a><\/sup> Rather, shortly before chatzos<\/em> (or when it is obviously going to stay cloudy until chatzos<\/em>) one would say, \u201cBaruch <\/em> oseh maaseh braishis<\/em>\u201d without the name of Hashem<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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III.\u00a0\u00a0 Why Every 28 Years?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When the world was created, the sun and moon were created on the Wednesday of the week of bri’as haolam<\/em> (creation of the world). \u00a0On that day, the beginning of spring11<\/a><\/sup> (known as \u201cTekufas Nissan<\/em>\u201d) was at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday the beginning of the halachic<\/em> day Wednesday.12<\/a><\/sup> <\/span><\/p>\n

It takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours13<\/a><\/sup> for the Earth to completely revolve one time around the sun.\u00a0 This is equal to 52 weeks, 1 day and 6 hours.\u00a0 Therefore, in the following year (after the world was created) spring began early Thursday at midnight (midnight early Thursday is one day of the week and 6 hours after Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.).\u00a0 The following year it began at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, the following year at noon on Shabbos<\/em> and the year after that at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.\u00a0 Every four years, the time of the tekufa<\/em> moved five days of the week later (e.g. from 6:00 p.m. Tuesday to 6:00 p.m. Sunday).\u00a0 After 28 years,14<\/a><\/sup> it returned to the same time that it was at Brias Haolam<\/em>, 6:00 p.m. Tuesday the beginning of \u201cLail Revi\u2019i<\/em>\u201d (halachically<\/em> Wednesday). So, in year 29 (counting from the creation), 57, 85, 113 \u00a0and every 28th year after that, including most recently in 5713 (1953) and 5741 (1981) the tekufa<\/em> was at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Birchas Hachama<\/em> was recited the next day.\u00a0 Once again, it will be at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday this year.\u00a0 After this year, the next time Birchas Hachama<\/em> will be recited will be in 5797 (2037) and then again in 5825 (2065).<\/span><\/p>\n

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IV. <\/strong> The Date<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Birchas Hachama<\/em> is always recited on a Wednesday.\u00a0 In the 20th and 21st Centuries, it is recited on April 8.15<\/a><\/sup> The Hebrew date can vary.\u00a0 In the past 400 years, Birchas Hachama<\/em> has been said as early as the 27th of Adar<\/em> II (in 5461 [1701]) and as late as the 26th of Nissan<\/em> (in 5545 [1785] and 5629 [1869]).16<\/a><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Birchas Hachama<\/em> can be recited on Yom Tov<\/em>.\u00a0 It will be recited on the seventh day of Pesach<\/em> (scheduled for 5881 [2121]) and was said on the second day of Pesach<\/em> \u2013 Yom Tov<\/em> outside of Israel (in 5601 [1841]).\u00a0 It cannot be recited on the first or eighth day of Pesach<\/em>, as these days never occur on Wednesday.\u00a0 This year, 5769 (2009), Birchas Hachama<\/em> will be recited on Erev Pesach<\/em>17<\/a><\/sup> and in 5797 (2037), according to the calculations of the calendar,18<\/a><\/sup> it will be recited on Isru Chag Pesach<\/em>.\u00a0 In 5825 (2065), it will be said on the 2nd of Nissan<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Klal Yisroel<\/em> is zoche<\/em> (merits) to have two types of mitzvos<\/em>.\u00a0 Some mitzvos<\/em> are performed frequently, on a daily or weekly basis; other mitzvos<\/em> are performed infrequently.\u00a0 Both types of mitzvos<\/em>, are done to better serve the Ribono Shel Olam<\/em>.\u00a0 One purpose of frequently performed
\nmitzvos<\/em> is to become more consistent in our connection to Hashem.\u00a0 How beautiful it is when Yidden daven<\/em> \u201cday in and day out,\u201d or when the Nashim Tzidkaniyos<\/em> (righteous women) faithfully light candles every single Erev Shabbos <\/em>and Yom Tov<\/em>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Infrequently performed mitzvos<\/em> such as Birchas Hachama<\/em> offer Klal Yisroel<\/em> the opportunity to serve Hashem<\/em> with special \u201chischadshus,<\/em>\u201d renewed anticipation and excitement in serving the Borai Olam<\/em> (Creator) with a mitzvah performed by Yidden throughout the world \u2013 usually only three times in ones lifetime! May we merit the recitation of Birchas Hachama<\/em> with Moshiach Tzidkainu<\/em> who should come bimhaira b\u2019yamainu<\/em>, speedily in our days.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Listen to a teleconference interview about Birchas Hachama. Click here.<\/a><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

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Footnotes<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>1. Berachos<\/em> 59b.\u00a0 The halacha<\/em> is addressed in Shulchan Aruch<\/em> – Orach<\/em> Chaim<\/em> 229:2. <\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/a>2. This is the same brocha<\/em> recited upon seeing lightning, very tall mountains or the Mediterranean Sea (the brocha<\/em> recited upon seeing an ocean is different).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>3. Tehillim<\/em> 148<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>4. This is from the Shabbos<\/em> morning davening<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>5. Tehillim<\/em> 19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>6. Mishna Brura<\/em> 229:8.\u00a0 See also Teshuvos Chasam Sofer<\/em> 1:56. There are various other customs as to which psukim<\/em> and tefillos<\/em> are recited before and after the bracha<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>7. \u201cKaddish Yasom<\/em>\u201d\/Mourner\u2019s Kaddish<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>8. Sof z\u2019man K\u2019rias Shma<\/em>, according to the opinion of the Gra.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>9. \u201cB\u2019rov Am Hadras Melech<\/em>\u201d.\u00a0 We honor Hashem<\/em> when a group of people perform the mitzvos<\/em> together. Of course, one can say Birchas Hachama<\/em> alone, but it should ideally be said with a minyan<\/em> or with at least two other people (the minimum \u201crov am<\/em>\u201d is three \u2013 see Chaye Adam<\/em> 68:11).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>10. Mishna Brura<\/em> 229:8, who quotes the Teshuvos<\/em> Chasam Sofer <\/em>1:56.\u00a0 Note the Panim Meiros<\/em> 2:30 states that it is enough to see the light of the sun as opposed to the actual sun.\u00a0 Therefore, even if it is cloudy, one may say Birchas Hachama <\/em>by going outside and seeing \u201csunlight\u201d.\u00a0 The Mishna Brura<\/em> rejects this view.\u00a0 Alternatively, one could go to a tall mountain or very large body of water and recite, \u201cOseh maaseh braishis<\/em>,\u201d having in mind Birchas Hachama<\/em> (see Sefer Shaarei Zmanim, Siman<\/em> 3, footnote 4.\u00a0 See also Siman <\/em>3, Section 3 regarding whether Birchas Hachama<\/em> can be said in countries west of Eretz Yisroel<\/em> on Tuesday if the weather forecasters predict that on Wednesday it will be very cloudy).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>11. This goes according to the opinion of Rebbi Yehoshua (Rosh Hashana<\/em> 11a) that \u201cB\u2019Nissan Nivra Ha\u2019olam<\/em>\u201d \u2013 the world was created at the beginning of spring.\u00a0 In regards to molados<\/em> (new moon) and in the davening<\/em> of Rosh Hashana<\/em> (when we say, \u201cZeh Hayom Techilas Ma\u2019asecha<\/em>\u201d) we follow the opinion of Rebbi Eliezer, who holds \u201cB\u2019Tishrei Nivrah Ha\u2019olam<\/em>,\u201d the world was created at the beginning of autumn.\u00a0 For a detailed discussion of this topic, see Tosfos Rosh Hashana<\/em> (8a-L\u2019tkufos<\/em> and 27a-K\u2019mahn<\/em>), Sefer Shaarei Zmanim Siman<\/em> 2 and Sefer Mayim Rabim Siman<\/em> 1.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>12. The Jewish day begins at night.\u00a0 Hence, at the beginning of spring, the new day begins at 6:00 p.m. when the sun sets and night begins.\u00a0 \u201cSunday\u201d begins at 6:00 p.m. Saturday. \u201cMonday\u201d begins at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, etc. \u00a0It should be noted that the \u201cfixed\u201d time of 6:00 p.m. for the beginning of any day of the year only relates to tekufos<\/em> and molados<\/em> (new moon).\u00a0 Regarding Shabbos<\/em> and Yom Tov<\/em>, the day begins at sunset and ends the next day when the stars come out.\u00a0 In the winter, this will be before 6:00 p.m., and in the summer after 6:00 p.m.\u00a0 Davening<\/em> times also vary depending upon the season.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>13. In reality, the earth takes 365 days, 5 hours 48 minutes 46 seconds to revolve around the sun.\u00a0 As will be discussed, Shmuel<\/em> sacrificed accuracy for simplicity, and used the rounded number of 365 \u00bc days.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>14. Every four years, the tekufa<\/em> is once again at 6:00 p.m., five days of the week later than the last time the tekufa<\/em> occured.\u00a0 After seven sets of four years (i.e. 28 years), it returns to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>15. Birchas Hachama<\/em> and the secular date are both based on the seasons which are based only on the sun.\u00a0 Therefore, the secular date of Birchas Hachama<\/em> is the same every time it is recited.\u00a0 The date changes every century when the Gregorian calendar skips a leap date (i.e. when there is no February 29 in years ending in \u201c00\u201d, not divisible by 400).\u00a0 Therefore, in the 19th Century Birchas Hachama<\/em> was said on April 7.\u00a0 It switched to April 8 when there was no February 29, 1900.\u00a0 After 2100, when February 29 will not occur, it will switch to April 9.\u00a0 It should be noted that V\u2019sain<\/em> Tal<\/em> U\u2019matar<\/em> also begins at the same time on the solar calendar every year (either December 4th or 5th at Maariv<\/em>) because Tal<\/em> U\u2019matar<\/em> is also based on the tekufos<\/em> (60th day of Tekufas Tishrei<\/em>\/Fall).\u00a0 Every century, when there is no February 29, Tal U\u2019matar<\/em> also shifts a day.\u00a0 In the 19th Century, it began December 3 or 4 at Maariv<\/em>.\u00a0 In the 22nd century, it will begin on December 5th or 6th at Maariv<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>16. An obvious question arises.\u00a0 If Pesach<\/em> must occur in the Spring (Tekufas Nissan<\/em>) and Birchas Hachama<\/em> occurs on the morning after Tekufas Nissan<\/em>, how is it possible for Birchas Hachama <\/em>to occur after<\/span> Pesach<\/em> (e.g. in 2037)?\u00a0 Birchas Hachama<\/em> after Pesach<\/em> means that the first day of Tekufas Nissan<\/em> is after Pesach<\/em> and, therefore, Pesach<\/em> is before<\/span> Tekufas<\/em> Nissan<\/em> and is still in the winter?<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer is that there are two different ways of calculating the tekufa<\/em>, one according to Shmuel<\/em> and the other according to Rav<\/em> Ada<\/em>.\u00a0 As previously indicated Shmuel<\/em>\u2019s tekufa<\/em> is based on a year that is 365 days 6 hours and is the tekufa<\/em> used for Birchas Hachama<\/em> and Tal U\u2019matar<\/em> (60th day of Tekufas<\/em> Tishrei<\/em>\/Fall).\u00a0 Rosh Hashanah<\/em>, Yomim Tovim<\/em>, and the calendar are based on the Tekufa<\/em> as calculated by Rav<\/em> Ada<\/em>, which is closer to the scientific calculation of the beginning of spring.\u00a0 Since these two times are slowly drifting away from each other (Tekufas<\/em> Shmuel<\/em> is moving later in relationship to Tekufas Rav<\/em> Ada<\/em>), it is possible to say Birchas Hachama<\/em> after Pesach<\/em> since Pesach<\/em> is calculated according to Tekufas Rav Ada<\/em>, while Birchas Hachama<\/em> is based on Tekufas Shmuel<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tekufas Rav<\/em> Ada<\/em> is based on 235 lunar months (the 19 year cycle, with seven leap years to ensure that Pesach<\/em> remains in the spring) divided by 19.\u00a0 This calculates the \u201caverage\u201d lunar year.\u00a0 It is 365 days, 5 hours, 997 chalakim<\/em> and 48 regaim<\/em> (997 chalakim<\/em> and 48 regaim<\/em> are equal to 55 minutes and 2.1 seconds, as each chalek<\/em> is 3 1\/3 seconds and each \u201crega<\/em>\u201d is 1\/76 of a chalek<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chazon Ish<\/em> (OC Siman<\/em> 138, se\u2019if katan<\/em> 4) explains that the calculations of Chazal<\/em> are slightly different from the calculations of science to make them more simple to use.\u00a0 This concept of sacrificing precision for simplicity is also found in the Gemara<\/em> including Sukka<\/em> 8a (in regards to square roots in calculating the hypotenuse of a triangle – see Tosfos).\u00a0 The purpose of mitzvos<\/em> is to accept the Heavenly yoke and to fulfill the \u201cchochmas haTorah<\/em>\u201d (wisdom of the Torah<\/em>).\u00a0 These must also be performed by \u201cchalushei hada\u2019as\u201d<\/em>, individuals who may be academically and mathematically weak.\u00a0 Therefore, in certain cases as determined by Chazal, mitzvos<\/em> can be performed based on calculations that have been rounded off for simplicity and do not require precise calculations.\u00a0 In other words, since all of Klal Yisroel<\/em> must perform these mitzvos<\/em>, we must utilize a simple calculation to avoid mass confusion.\u00a0 Tekufas Rav Ada<\/em> is closer to the scientific calculation but is also not precise.\u00a0 Once again, a small degree of accuracy was sacrificed to achieve the \u201csimplicity\u201d of basing the calendar on the average lunar year.\u00a0 It should also be noted that using a precise solar calculation would mean an inaccurate average of the lunar months.\u00a0 For a detailed discussion of this issue, see Sefer Shaarei Zmanim Siman<\/em> 1.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>17. The Ostrovtzah Rebbe<\/em>, zt\u201dl<\/em>, as quoted in Sefer<\/em> Me\u2019ir Aini Chachamim,<\/em> says that since the creation of the world, Birchas Hachama<\/em> was recited on Erev Pesach <\/em>on three occasions \u2013 the day before the exodus from Egypt, at the time Mordechai<\/em> and Esther<\/em> fasted after the decree of Haman<\/em>, and \u201cvery soon\u201d, referring to 5685 (1925) as the Rebbe<\/em> discussed in the early 1900\u2019s.\u00a0 There are two questions on this explanation:\u00a0 1) If Birchas Hachama<\/em> is recited every 28 years, it was recited in 2437 and 2465, and the exodus from Egypt was during or next to the year 2448, when Birchas Hachama<\/em> was not said.\u00a0 The story of Purim<\/em> took place during or near 3405, which is nowhere near 3389 and 3417, the years of Birchas Hachama<\/em>.
\n2) Furthermore, Birchas Hachama<\/em> was recited on several occasions on Erev Pesach <\/em>(after the stories Pesach<\/em> and Purim<\/em>), including the following years:\u00a0 4369 (609), 4453 (693) and 5069 (1309).\u00a0 Therefore, the Ostrovtzah Rebbe<\/em>\u2019s statement needs further clarification, v<\/em>\u2019tzarich iyun<\/em>. See Sefer Shaarei Zmanim<\/em> 1:8.\u00a0 [It should be noted that this year, Erev Pesach<\/em> will be only the third time in the last 1300 years that both the preparation of an Eruv Tavshilin<\/em> and the recitation of Birchas Hachama<\/em> will occur on the same day.]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a>18. When Moshiach<\/em> comes, bimhaira b\u2019yameinu<\/em>, we will establish Rosh Chodesh<\/em> based on witnesses and there may be slight variations in the Jewish calendar that is currently based on calculations.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Published Winter 2008<\/p>\n

To hear a comprehensive shiur on Birchas Hachama, click here.<\/a>
\nListen to a teleconference interview about Birchas Hachama, click here.<\/a><\/strong><\/i><\/b>
\nTo see Sefer Shaarai Zmannim referenced in this article, click here<\/a>.<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1014,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,27,66],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kashurs-kurrents-2008","category-kashrus-kurrents","category-winter-kashrus-kurrents-2008"],"yoast_head":"\nBirchas Hachama 5769 | STAR-K Kosher Certification<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If one would visit the numerous day schools, chadarim, mesivtos and batei midrashim throughout the world, one would find that every child\u2026\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.star-k.org\/articles\/kashrus-kurrents\/679\/birchas-hachama-5769\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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