Ahrcanum

The sun has just about set, bringing another day to a close.   This morning’s sun of  April 8th featured Birkat Hachamah, the Jewish ritual of “Blessing the Sun” which occurs every 28 years.  According to Talmudic tradition, the Sun was created on the fourth day, which was a Wednesday.  In Roman times the new year began on the day of the vernal equinox, which fell on March 25 some 2400 years ago. http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/tours-events/sky-this 

According to rabbinic tradition, on this day the sun is in the exact position it occupied at the time of Creation. And that, as with almost everything else in Judaism, is cause for a blessing.  Tonight is also Passover in this year 5769 (2008-2009).

It is a simple prayer- The text of the blessing itself is as follows:

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

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

Most religions mark the time in a sacred way.  40 days of lent, the 40 day flood, etc. Counting the solar years in increments of 28 is just one more way of marking a new beginning- a rebirth.

“At a time of growing concern over global warming, birkat hachama has found new resonance. In many synagogues, the special blessing — only one sentence long — will be accompanied by recitations of the ways in which the congregation is harnessing solar power and generally, assuming environmentally friendly policies.”  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123872560930985495.html

I believe in the power of the sun for growth, warmth and spirituality, but pausing for “the birth of the sun,” gives me  little evidence of consequence to fossil fuel consumption or global warming.  In fact, it pisses me off that I will soon be required to purchase mercury laden, compact fluorescent light bulbs- CF’L’s, energy saving, cancer causing light bulbs.

“The blessing is an affirmation of God, not as creator, but as the power that keeps the universe in existence,” said Rabbi J. David Bleich, an expert on the holiday who wrote a book on the subject. “God didn’t just create the universe, then go on an eternal sabbatical. He’s like a generator of electricity: If it doesn’t keep on working, the lights go out.” http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1238562942983

With due respect, time for lights out and bed.  You could dream of, “the potential effects of intense solar Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) on the earth and an ever-growing awareness of the possibility of extreme geomagnetic storms seem to rekindle interest in the so-called ‘Carrington Event’ of 1859, when “skies all over planet Earth erupted in red, green, and purple auroras”, causing severe damage to the telegraph networks of the time. Between then and 1958, altogether 6 well-documented auroras were strong enough to be visible within 30º or indeed 20º of the equator. http://xenophilius.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/the-coming-of-the-sky-dancers/.

God willing, we will rise to see tomorrow’s sunrise. For planet viewing check out  http://stardate.org/nightsky/planets/