A Blessing for the Solar Eclipse
By Rabbi Andrea Goldstein
On Monday, April 8, between 1–2 p.m. Central Time in and around St. Louis, a solar eclipse will occur. This rare natural event happens when the moon travels between the earth and sun in such a way as to block the light of the sun from reaching us. Many of us remember experiencing another total solar eclipse in the fall of 2017, and what an awesome sight it was.
It is interesting to note that Jewish tradition feels that solar eclipses were bad omens for the world, and because of this, there is no specific Jewish blessing to utter during such a powerful moment. However, as Reform Jews and as people who believe that tradition can progress with time, we view a solar eclipse as an event that points us to the wonders of Creation, and therefore a moment that is worthy of a blessing.
There is a general blessing for remarkable natural phenomena that feels more than right for this kind of experience:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם שֶׁכֹּחוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ מָלֵא עוֹלָם
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, shekocho ooh g’vuratoh mahlay olam.
Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the Universe, whose strength and glory fills the universe.
The Shehechiyanu, a blessing we say when experiencing something for the first time, is also a wonderful prayer for this moment.
However you experience the solar eclipse, may it be a moment of wonder, beauty, and awe inspiring us toward better days filled with hope, strength, and peace.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Andrea Goldstein, Director of the Jewish Mindfulness Center of St. Louis
P.S. – Please remember not to look directly at the sun without protective eyewear.