Article by Chaya Bracha Leiter; written March 1, 2009,

SAFED, ASCENT.
In Preparation for the 3rd most Auspicious Birkat HaChama, 8
APRIL 2009

Forty days before the holiday a Jew is to begin to learn the laws
and prepare for the holiday. Pesach is –of course THE holiday that
needs early preparations. One of the most important preparations
is to make sure every Jew has what they need to celebrate the
holiday especially wine and (preferably hand made Shmura)
Matzos
This year we will be able to participate in a once in 28 year
celebration. There is a special blessing thanking G-d who created
the acts of creation said once in every 28 years on a certain day
(see below) upon seeing the rising sun and can still be said until
the 3rd hour after sun-rise.

1. This blessing is made when the sun returns to the beginning of

the yearly solar cycle and on the original day when it was
created. We read in the accounting of creation that on the 4th day
(Wednesday) the sun, moon and stars were created. The solar
cycle is 365.25 days. 52 weeks multiplied by 7 days = 364. Each
year is 1.25 days more than exactly 52 weeks. Therefore it takes
28 years for the solar cycle to return to Wednesday in the week.
(* Don`t forget the Jewish day starts the night before).

2. This blessing is said in the beginning of the spring (The Nisan

season) for a very deep reason. The logic is as follows:

A-the question.
There is an argument in the Talmud -- Rabbi Yehoshua says the
world was created in Nisan (the month in which Passover occurs)
because the Torah says that Nisan is the head of the months.
Rabbi Eliezer says the world was created in Tishrei and thatis why
we refer to Rosh Hashanah (which is in Tishrei) in our prayers as
“The beginning of YOUR deeds”. In practicality, we posit Tishrei to
be the start of the year while Nisan is the first of all months and
seasons.

The Tosfos commentary on the Talmud explains that this

argument based on there being two beginnings is possible
because there were two stages in the creation: 1- the conceiving
of the creation as a whole and in detail, and 2- the actual bringing
of creation into actuality. Obviously, thought precedes speech and
action. The question is in which month was the world conceived
in and which month was the world created in? Did Tishrei follow
after Nisan or did Nisan follow after Tishrei?

B-the resolution.
Rosh Hashanah, which falls on the first day of Tishrei, is the
judgment of the world. Mankind is the only creation that can
improve or destroy the world. Therefore the Day of Judgment is
the day man began to act in the world - i.e. the beginning of
actual creation. In Nisan the world was conceived in its
entirety.

.
3. Our holy sages enacted the saying of this blessing once in 28
years in the month of Nisan whereas we really should say our
thanks for creating the sun every day. If we said the blessing
every day we might mistakenly thank the sun and not its creator,
but if we all gather together, in great numbers, once in every 28 ,
in the time when we concentrate how G-d in all His infinite
kindness conceived this world and how to lovingly sustain it
through one of G-d`s creations we will certainly be thanking the
One and only Creator blessed be He. We will be thanking G-d
from his essence and not just from the way we feel the warmth
and sustenance of the sun!!!

4. The blessing takes on added significance because the year

following the Sabbatical year when the land is not worked is
called Hakhel (the Gathering Together year). In the times of the
holy Temple this gathering was only during the holiday of Succos
following the Sabbatical year. Without the temple the entire year
is considered time to gather and join forces in great numbers to
accomplish our purpose. If praising G-d in great multitudes is
important at all times, how much more so in this year of Hakhel.
So let us pray that this year won`t be like my fond memory of 28
years ago when my entire community and all the little babies
were up and dressed and gathered together waiting for the sun to
shine –and waiting… and waiting… and waiting… and waiting…
until after about 2 hours the clouds cleared and we all said a very
joyous (and relieved ) blessing.
5. The other inspiring aspect of this year is that the blessing will
take place the morning before the seder night. The 14th of
Nisan(april 8th ).The 1st time we said this blessing on the 14th of
Nisan was the year we were redeemed from Egypt. The next
significant time we said this blessing on the 14th of Nisan was the
year of the Purim miracle and this year is the last time this
blessing will be said on the 14th of Nisan till the end of the 6th
millennium. Therefore it has been predicted that this year the
blessing said with great unity will usher in the complete
redemption-Amen.

5. Just to note on a practical level—we must check for chametz

the night before and be finished eating our chametz by around
10am (more precisely: 1/3 of the time between sunrise and
sunset, which varies locally) and burning it within the following
hour for Seder placement or help in ordering hand-made Shmura
Matzos.

If you need assistance with Seder placement or in ordering hand-

made Shmura Matzos, if in Israel and especially in Safed contact
Ascent 04 692-1364. Elsewhere, your near-by Chabad House will
be happy to help. Have a kosher and Happy Pesach with
redemption from all inhumanity for all humanity-NOW.

~~~~~~~~

Mrs. Chaya-Bracha Leiter is a Torah teacher at Ascent-of-Safed and the

chief tour guide. She has been a major part of Ascent's success since
its humble beginnings in 1983.