Jewish Earth Day
April 8, 2009 by Sandy Mitchell
Filed under Gardening
Tonight, at sundown, begins the Jewish celebration of Passover. Jews will also celebrate today Birkat HaChamah (Blessing of the Sun), an ancient ritual held every 28 years.
According to Jewish lore, the sun is in the exact position each 28 years as it was when God created the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day (as recounted in the Bible’s Book of Genesis).
The Blessing of the Sun is all about gratitude and appreciation of nature. Around the world, services will be held outdoors. Jews have celebrated this event more than 200 times, including in 33 A.D., the year most scholars believe Jesus died. The next Birkat Hachamah will be in 2037.
For more about this celebration, visit Chabad.org.
(photo credit: Newscom)
