Once every 28 years – blessing of the sun
Jews throughout Australia will participate in a ceremony next week which takes place every 28 years – the Blessing of the Sun.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe at the 1981 Blessing of the Sun in New York
Birkut Hachamah, the Blessing of the Sun is the rarest ritual in the Jewish Calendar, last performed in 1981.
In ceremonies throughout the country, Jews of all religious factions will gather in open air venues and, looking upwards in the direction of the sun, will recite the ancient Brocha.
The ritual takes place on a specific Wednesday morning when the sun reaches the point in the sky religious authorities deem to be where it was at the time of the Creation 5769 years ago.
The ceremony will take place throughout the Jewish world. Rabbi Pinchus Feldman, head of Chabad in NSW said: “More Jews in more place than ever before will participate. The world has changed drastically since the last time the blessing on the sun was recited, but blessing G-d for His natural wonders reminds us to reflect on the blessings of our daily lives.”
Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins of the Emanuel Synagogue in Sydney told J-Wire they would recite the brocha at 6:30 a.m. as the sun rose above the cliffs of Bondi.
