Description: Rare as it is, the Birkas hachama or the Sun Blessing brings together an astonishing array of ideas. Law, lore, astronomy, calendar, and ritual all combine on this day to create a fascinating ritual. The material in this book is woven of the various strands which wind and turn their way through the fabric of Jewish experience.
Amongst the subjects explored in this book are:
The ambiguous source for the Sun Blessing and how this passage was understood by successive generations.
The laws governing the recital of the Sun Blessing
Why there are different opinions regarding the exact time of the Sun Blessing
The possibility of prayer to a God who cannot be known.
The method of prayer according to the Zohar
The source of the various prayers chanted on this day (and on many other days).
The meaning of obscure words and verses in the Bible
What ethical and moral lessons can be derived from the moment of the Spring Equinox
The basic structure of the Jewish calendar, and how it compares to alternative calendrical systems.
This book contains a wealth of original material, much of it not available elsewhere, which is of relevance not only for the day of the Sun Blessing but also for every day of the year, especially to those who want to imbue the prayer with deep meaning.