MUNSTER | Morning sunlight created diamond sparkles on the water and the wind made soft ripples on the lake at Centennial Park. Standing on the bridge facing east toward the sun, members of Northwest Indiana's Jewish community gathered Wednesday for a tradition that spans millennia and circles the globe, yet occurs only every 28 years.
On that bridge, the group of more than 30 people recited and sang the "Birkat HaChamah" or the Blessing of the Sun in Hebrew. The blessing, which is said by Jews around the world every 28 years, celebrates and gives thanks for God's formation of the sun, moon, the stars and the planets on the fourth day of creation, said Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov of Chabad of Northwest Indiana in Munster.
"We do not bless the sun. We bless God and acknowledge nature and the natural occurrences," the rabbi said. "This is not something we take for granted."
Tradition says Sunday is the first day of the week and God set the heavenly bodies in the sky on Wednesday. According to the Jewish faith, God created the universe 5,769 years ago and this blessing ceremony celebrates the sun's return to its original position on the day of creation. The blessing is recited outdoors if possible after sunrise, but before a quarter of the day has passed and it is always celebrated on a Wednesday.
The 28-year gap between the blessings occurs because a solar year is 365-1/4 days long, Rabbi Zalmanov said. "That one-quarter day accounts for the sun not returning to its original position in relation to the earth for 28 years," he said. Birkat HaChamah won't occur again until 2037.
This year was only the 13th time in history that Birkat HaChamah occurred on the day before Passover, which began Wednesday evening. The last time was in 1925, Rabbi Zalmanov said.
Passover or Pesach relates to the exodus of Hebrew slaves from Egypt and observes how God "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.
Prior to Passover, Jewish first-born children are required to fast. However, Rabbi Zalmanov said, because of the rarity of the Blessing of the Sun, the Jewish community sets that requirement aside and absolves itself through a study of an essay from the Talmud, the oral version of the Torah.
Rabbi Ben Kramer, of Congregation Beth Israel in Munster, conducted that study for the community over the past few weeks. His presentation Wednesday explored what the Talmud says about the type of rabbi who makes the best leader - one steeped in theory or one who is practical. The lesson also applies to how people read and study the Torah, he said.
"Both types of rabbis and Torah study are necessary," Rabbi Kramer said.
"These open-ended questions will be answered when Elijah the Prophet comes to herald in the Messiah, the Messianic age," he said, adding that during Passover, Jews open the door of their homes hoping Elijah will enter.
"We hope tonight will be the night to bring Elijah." Following the presentation, Rabbi Kramer led the group in reciting Kaddish.
"Most people are familiar with the part of Kaddish that is said by people who mourn," Rabbi Kramer said. "But it is a prayer in Aramaic (a Semitic language used for thousands of year) that praises God."
