Blessing the Sun: April 8, 2009 « The New Jew: Blogging Jewish Philanthropy and Innovation

Blessing the Sun: April 8, 2009

Blessing the Sun by Exothermic

As we open our eyes to greet the new day tomorrow, we bless the sun with the words:

“ברוך אתה ה’ אלקינו מלך העולם עושה מעשה בראשית”

“Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe who makes the works of Creation.“

“Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam Oseh Ma’aseh Breishit.”

Birkhat HaChama

The blessing on the sun (birkhat hachama) is said at the beginning of the 28 year Jewish solar cycle, celebrated next on April 8, 2009/14 Nisan, 5769, when Jews believe that the sun returns to its exact place at the time of its creation. We commemorate it tomorrow for the 206th time.

The Sun Blessing is shared with other natural phenomena, such as lightning, comets, meteors, and upon seeing “wondrous natural topography, such as great mountains, rivers, and vast wilderness.”

For more information, please see Bless the Sun.

“And God said: Let there be lights in the vastness

of sky to separate day from night…

And they shall serve as lights in the

vastness of space, to shine upon the earth.

And it was so.”

(Genesis 1:14 -15)

Sun Salutation

If you are a practitioner of yoga, now is the time for the Sun Salutation pose.

Sun Salutation

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 8:26 pm and is filed under Jewish Thinking & Ideas, Universal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “Blessing the Sun: April 8, 2009”

Scot Says:
April 11, 2009 at 5:00 am | Reply
Israel now and forever!
The sun , the stars and the moon bear witness for ALL that is good about the word of GOD coming true!
ISrael NOW and FOREVER!
Ian Says:
April 14, 2009 at 1:54 pm | Reply
Maya, thanks for posting this. At the moment of the point of creation I was with the woman I love in Atlanta, who I hope to spend the rest of my life with, the first warm day long enough to lay out in the sun. Thank you for this information
- Maya Norton Says:
  April 16, 2009 at 7:29 pm | Reply
  My pleasure, Ian. Congratulations– there’s nothing more important in life than love. Will you be returning to Israel or staying in Atlanta?
  
  Hope you had a pleasant chag,
  
  ~ Maya
Blessing the Sun: Photos from Brooklyn to B’Nei Brak « The New Jew: Blogging Jewish Philanthropy Says:
April 16, 2009 at 8:32 pm | Reply
[...] the eve of Passover 5769, Jews around the world celebrated the Blessing of the Sun (Birkhat [...]
Ian Says:
April 16, 2009 at 11:52 pm | Reply
Maya, I plan on returning to live in Atlanta permanently. I love the southern sense of grace, something missing from Israeli culture, though the two regions share some common traits as well. She is a true Southern beauty with all the qualities that includes.