The astronomy tag has no wiki summary.
13
votes
7answers
359 views
How did the moon shrink?
The Bavli, Chulin 60:2, says (in my own loose translation):
Rabbi Shim'on ben Pazi noted a contradiction: [B'reshis 1:16] says, "God made the two big luminaries" and "the big luminary… and ...
11
votes
1answer
168 views
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse?
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse? I will be in Nevada next week and would like to make a blessing over the May 21 Solar Eclipse. Thanks!
6
votes
1answer
95 views
Is there an exhaustive list of astronomical/environmental events for which there are blessings?
Inspired by:
What Bracha do you say on a Hurricane?
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse?
Bracha for the transit of Venus?
Is there anywhere in the Halachic literature that lists all of ...
6
votes
1answer
144 views
New date at sunset: question on Sifse Chachamim
Avoda Zara 25 cites a difference of opinion as to how long the sun stood still for Y'hoshua: twelve hours, twenty-four, or thirty-six. According to those who say twelve or thirty-six, the sun finally ...
6
votes
4answers
353 views
Eclipse of the moon, bad sign for the Jews
Tonight, December 20, 2010, there will be a full lunar eclipse visible from North America and many other areas. I recall there is a Gemara that says that a lunar eclipse is a bad omen for the Jews as ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Good and Bad Omen - on something that can be calculated in advance
Inspired by Why make a bracha on an earthquake but not on an eclipse?
When something can be predicted in advance to an exact moment - for example an eclipse which Chazal say it is a bad Omen (Sukkah ...
8
votes
3answers
218 views
Permissibility of images of celestial bodies
There is precedent in halachah that one may not create images of celestial bodies such as the moon and stars; see here for background. This is derived in the Gemara from the pasuk "Do not make [images ...
4
votes
6answers
676 views
What's with Kiddush Levana?
In general Kiddush Lavanah has always seemed to me to be akin to "Avodas Kochavim" - so does anyone know of a satisfying answer that works with Occam's razor?
More specifically:
We say Just as I can ...
9
votes
2answers
155 views
Bracha for the transit of Venus?
Venus is transiting today for the last time until 2117 (or 5878, if you prefer). Is there a specific bracha that should be made upon witnessing this spectacular event?
9
votes
2answers
251 views
Latest shabbat not longest day…?
I was under the impression that the longest day was June 22nd, and yet, year after year- the latest time for candle lighting takes place about a week and a half after that. Intuitively, the latest ...
5
votes
1answer
116 views
Is the midrash about the moon and sun being the same size intended literally?
The Rambam in his introduction to perek Chelek discusses midrashic literalist, and classifies different approaches of different groups to midrash. He writes:
You should know that as to ...
4
votes
1answer
99 views
Why make a bracha on an earthquake but not on an eclipse?
According to this page, Chaza"l intentionally omitted solar and lunar eclipses from the list of natural phenomena upon which we make a bracha. The following explanation is given:
"The Hebrew term ...
0
votes
2answers
113 views
When did hashem stop the sun?
As in the time of milchemes Ay, Hashem stopped the sun for 36 hours . Where else in Tanach did it happen? I need more then one.
-3
votes
0answers
84 views
What will the size of the sun be when moshiach comes and what will be its purpose?
At the time of creation the sun and moon were the same size, they were called the large luminaries and the moon complained that two kings cant be the same size. There must have been some difference ...
