trystinn | Birkat Hachama (aka Thanks for the Sun!)

There's a lovely Holy Day coming around on April 8th/14 Nissan 5769 that I though I'd share with folks. Birkat Hachama only occurs every 28 years (the Jewish solar cycle), so we place it in the "only a few times in a lifetime" category, which is a bit of a shame as it's a lovely recognition of our place in the Universe and the Powers that Be that grant us life here on Earth.

Birkat Hachama celebrates the creation of the Sun during the the 4th day of Creation. Specifically, Nissan begins at Spring Equinox, and Birkat Hachama recognizes that the Sun has returned to it's place of Creation, called the Turning Point. However, this is no astronomical event (i.e. no great alignment) to observe, this is considered a metaphysical Holy Day.

In Bereshit/Genesis: 1:14-19 the passage that describes the creation of the Sun also explains: "And Hashem made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night and the stars. And Hashem placed them in the sky of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from darkness; and Hashem saw that it was good. And it was evening and it was morning, a fourth day."

We are told that the Sun arises like a bridegroom from his bridal chamber, rejoicing like a great warrior.

To celebrate this, one recites the "Blessing of the Sun" (among other prayers) but the holiday actually recognizes much more than just the Sun - this Holy Day is in appreciation for all the Natural Wonders: mountains, comets, lightning, etc. And it ends, most appropriately, with the beautiful and haunting Mourner's Kaddish, arguably the most beautiful of Hashem's gifts to the Jewish people.

More to come.