1. I have a small he’ara to add to this discussion. We do not make a bracha on an eclipse. But this year, people in totality might be able to make a bracha. That is because, coincidentally, the new moon will be entering Mazal T’leh at the same time as the eclipse, and the Mechaber in 229:3 says that when the new moon is in the Mazal T’leh you make the bracha oseh maasei breishis. If you are in the path of totality, the sky will darken and you will see the small crescent of the new moon which will be in Mazal T’leh. As the Mishna Berura there says, in practice, we do not make the bracha. There is no known reason not to, we just don’t. But when it is both a total eclipse and the moon in the exactly right position, maybe it’s exceptional enough to consider making the bracha.

   • My comment assumes that when the moon obscures the sun, it can be said to be visible, because its shape and position can be discerned visually. I understand that others may disagree.

2. I don’t think we should be talking about the eclipse. Because it highlights the idea against the Chazal who held that the moon is fire that shines onto us at night while the sun is traveling from west to east above the non-transparent blanket called Sky.

Comments are closed.