[Avodah] birchat hachama

[Eli Turkel]

<<Contrary to my error earlier, the event is not at dawn (or noon). It's
actually the night before. The moment that the sun is in its place is
during the rule of Shabbatai, which is at the start of Wed, the evening
before. The berakhah is made when the sun next appears. (Perhaps one
can compare making the berakhah after noon to making the berakhah on
the year's fruit blossoms after Nissan.)>>

Actually one can make the berachat ha-ilanot after nissan just that normally
there are no blossoms later in the year. In the southern henisphere one would
say it in Tishre.
Though one says it once a year I heard a psak that someone in Australia would
say in in Tishre and if he were in Israel 6 months later he would say it again
since it is another year (starting in Nissan).

I agree that many rishonim did not distinguish between science and mythology
(though Rambam certainly did distinguish between astronomy and astrology).
Nevertheless I read them as saying that birchat hachamma is once in 28 years
because literally the sun returns to its original location after 28 years
(1/4 day time 4 for a whole day and times seven to return to the same day of the
week).
Does anyone have any source before modern times that does not take this
literally (physically)?


-- 
Eli Turkel