On February 9, 1986, when I was seven years old, my parents woke my younger sister, Emily, and me up in the middle of the night. They had prepared a thermos of hot chocolate, borrowed a telescope from a friend, and packed blankets and jackets. They led us out into the cold night air. Emily and I were in our pajamas, and my parents bundled us up in the back seat of the car. As we drove, my parents explained to us that we were about to see Halley’s Comet, a comet that appears in the night sky once every 75-76 years. They set up the telescope and we held our breath, waiting for a flashing light to appear in the sky. As we waited, I clearly remember my mom saying to Emily and me, “Remember this night forever. And, in 75 years, the two of you should meet one another again, at night, with a telescope, and see this comet again.”
We remember the milestones our parents create for us.
This year, at dawn on Wednesday, April 8 (not to be confused with sundown on April 8, which is the first night of Passover), Jews around the world will gather together to commemorate another such heavenly event. Jewish tradition teaches us that every 28 years the sun returns to its original place in the heavens; the place it rested at the exact moment of creation. On April 8, the sun will reach this exact point. On this day, Jews gather at dawn, gaze toward the sun, and recite a blessing called Birkat HaHammah.
The Talmud and other sources of rabbinic literature have complicated explanations for why Birkat HaHammah only occurs every 28 years, and wonderfully complex mathematical explanations for how their computations are found. Check out the Orthodox website for great explanations of this! The possibilities for this day, though, only begin with halachic computations.
This year, many Jewish groups are looking to highlight and celebrate the environmental implications of blessing the sun. If we can understand the seven-day creation story not as a literal description of the world’s inception, but as a metaphor for its birth, I believe this celebration is enriched even further. The seven days of creation symbolize a world in perfect harmony. In this world, animals and humans, plants and birds, sky and sea, air and earth exist in their intended balance. In past generations, we have disrupted this harmony. The threats of climate change, we are told, are very much real. The effects of pollution are real. The alarming rate of landfill growth is real. We need a sun blessing this year, more than ever!
And so, as Jews, we have a unique opportunity this April 8. We have an opportunity to open our eyes and the eyes of our children to a new way of looking our planet. Are you looking for ways to celebrate? Check out these ideas below:
Support TBS’s New Solar Ner Tamid. In honor of Birkat HaHammah, Temple Beth Sholom will be installing a new solar power grid on top of our sanctuary. From this point forward, our Temple’s eternal light, our Ner Tamid, will not be fueled by electricity, but directly by the sun. This new power source will serve as an ongoing symbol of our sustainable relationship with both God and our planet. This new solar power grid will be funded by a grant from the Los Angeles Board of Rabbis, a generous donation from the TBS Torah Study group, and funds from the TBS Religious School tzedakah collections. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please send a check to Temple Beth Sholom with the words “Solar Ner Tamid Project” in the subject. On a future Sunday morning, the TBS Religious School will be unveiling and celebrating our new solar ner tamid. We invite you to join us for the celebration!
Create a ceremony. I recall hot chocolate and blankets, and a special blessing by my mother, as I watched Halley’s Comet fly by. If you are interested in creating memories by celebrating Birkat HaHammah, I invite you to choose a place to go at dawn on April 8 (some ideas are the beach, on a mountain, in a park, on your front porch, or in your backyard). Check out the printable ceremonial materials for blessings to say at home at and create your own ritual.
Get involved. This year’s Birkat HaHammah has inspired a host of new Jewish environmental advocacy resources. If you are interested in learning more, Click here.
If you plan on celebrating Birkat HaHammah this year, please let me know. If you have pictures to share, please send them along! In our world today, we must embrace opportunities to celebrate. I invite you to seize this moment. It only comes every 28 years!
This week’s Torah Portion is Parashat Tzav. Please check out the URJ Torah Commentary by Dr. Rachel Adler to learn more.
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