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Today, Jewish worshippers around the world are participating in events marking the "Blessing of the Sun." As Julie Wiener explains in the Wall Street Journal, "According to Talmudic calculations, every 28 years the sun is in the exact position it occupied at the time of Creation. As it happens, that moment falls on Wednesday, April 8, of this year, at sunrise -- just hours before Passover begins. There is a brief blessing for the occasion, too. It is called Birchat Hachamah, Hebrew for 'blessing of the sun.'"
Fox 5's SkyFox helicopter took the above photograph of a Bedford Avenue gathering in Williamsburg; there were other gatherings in NYC this morning, such as a prayer at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the U.N. and a prayer at a penthouse near the World Trade Center site (according to the NY Times, "A Birkat Hachamah ceremony in 1981 was held on the 107th-story observation deck of the World Trade Center's South Tower, and the rabbi is dedicating Wednesday's blessing to the memory of those who died in the Sept. 11 attacks").
The Times also links to its own 1897 article about the ceremony (PDF): It didn't go very well, because the rabbi was arrested for performing the ceremony (which attracted hundreds) without a permit. There were language barriers between the Hebrew-speaking rabbi and the cop, "The attempt of a foreign citizen to explain to an American Irishman an astronomical situation and a tradition of the Talmud was a dismal failure" and the cop, who wondered "whether some new infection of lunacy had broken out ... seized the rabbi by the neck and took him to Essex Market Police Court."
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"creation". oh, religion.
yea you know it's like a disney movie. fairytales and such
party like it's 1799
I'd bless the sun if that would make it stick around long enough to warm shit up today!
"Pfft, They are not participating in the Blessings of the Sun event, Im sure someone just dropped some change their last night" - Mel Gibson
That's hysterical!!! We can't stop laughing at my office!!!
You would think that with all of the crap that the Jewish community has taken in the history of Earth, that they would learn not to congregate like that making themselves easy targets.
And how funny is it that they almost form a cross?
it's funny that they almost form a cross? wow, imagine the hilarity that would ensue if they actually did form a cross. not sure i'd be able to continue working... what with all the laughter and pants-wetting.
You should really have that looked at. Pants-wetting at your age is a sign of prostate problems.
I guess no one in this city has a sense of humor when it comes to poking fun at religious bullshit. It was obviously a juxtapostional refernce to Passover and Easter.
Good point Cowboys, since, y'know, there's no safety in numbers or anything...
Yeah, like there's safety in numbers when people stampede or when there's some idiot with a grenade he wants to throw or a suicide bomber needs a place to settle.
I was just saying since this group of people believes themselves to be the most persecuted group of people on the planet, they should probably not stand around like a herd of cows heading to a slaughterhouse. I'm trying to help here.
The fact that a group of people gathering at a crossroads end up forming a cross-like shape is fantastically hilarious on so many levels.
Really. It's like, something the writers of Suddenly Susan might come up with.
People who are that religious have strong beliefs about symbols and shapes. You would think that they'd want to form a straight line so that God's view of them didn't form a cross, since that symbol/shape is reserved for a different religion. Ever see a Catholic church from above? It doesn't form the Star of David.
Looks like the center of a peace sign to me. It's all a matter of your perspective, I guess.
Very true. It could also look like a Y or a Mercedes symbol or a number of other things. I thank you for your perspective since the perspective of others who replied to me was boring and mundane.
Those BQE overpasses are very spiritual sites.
Just don't try to ride a bicycle in that crowd.
fools
What does that mean, exactly -- "the sun is in the exact position it occupied at the time of Creation"? Like, at the center of the solar system? Was the sun someplace else at the time of creation?
I believe it means when a beam of sunlight passes through a crystal in the center of the headpiece on the Staff of Ra, which would then project a beam of light onto a miniature of the city at a certain time of day. The headpiece would reveal the exact location of the Well of Souls, the chamber containing the ark.
Winner!
I believe it means when a beam of sunlight passes through a crystal in the center of the headpiece on the Staff of Ra, which would then project a beam of light onto a miniature of the city at a certain time of day. The headpiece would reveal the exact location of the Well of Souls, the chamber containing the ark.
I think these calculations assume a geocentric universe (i.e., the earth stands still and everything else revolves around it).
What's the deal with Jews? They take off every holiday that Non-Jews get, then take even MORE special holidays of their own. WTF??? And they feel entitled to it too.
Yeah, it's like they've got their own religion or something. Cah-razy shit.
So then why is it that Jews take Christmas off? When everyone else has Christmas off, Jews should be working. Or maybe I should just make up my own religion and take off 10 extra holidays per year because "Hey, it's my religion, so I have a right"???
Yeah that annoys me to. To get a load more days off just cos they believe in something nonsensical? Wtf?
Plenty of Jews work on Christmas. Head into Jewish neighborhoods and you'll see life as usual, and many Jews who work in other fields actually specifically work Christmas so they can cover for non-Jewish co-workers. Generally if Jews take off it's because their company or building is closed, or their job is one where there isn't any point being open because there will be no business. And many Jews I know who work for non-Jews have to use their vacation days for Jewish holidays and essentially get no real leisure vacation at all.
Let them be. It's a harmless joke and no one is going to get hurt. I believe the Sun appreciates their adoration.
The anti-semitic comments on this board sadden me, especially on the day Passover begins. I hope you know that those of you making anti-semitic comments are a bunch of ignorant, backwards people and you should all be ashamed of yourselves.
On the contrary, I think these fools "worshipping the sun" are the "ignorant, backwards fools". Oh and just so you know, I think Christianity and Islam are complete crap too.
I wouldn't go around calling other people "fools" when you don't even know the difference between blessing something and worshiping it.
I can see why you'd say that, but I'd argue that the point is somewhat moot if he thinks all religion is ridiculous. If I hate sports, what consequence is it if I don't know the difference between a first down and a touchdown?
Disliking sports is not quite calling a bunch of *people* fools for their beliefs, and claiming to base it on things they do that they're not actually doing. The idea that they would actually be worshiping the sun would be horrifying to Jews (as it would be considered idolatry.) If someone feels they have the right to make a statement about other people, they should have their facts straight — or keep their mouths shut.
Okay fine, "Blessing the Sun" is just as fucking ridiculous. Fairy Tale believers.
Actually, the ceremony is not about worshipping the sun. It is, in fact, a blessing of gratitude to the creator of the sun
My point was not to equate dislike of sports with condescension towards religious devotees, but rather to argue that someone who objects to religion in general has little need to understand theological subtleties. (That said, it doesn't take a divinity student to understand the difference between "worship" and "bless").
Don't be silly. Everybody knows a first down is in baseball and a touchdown is in football.
I second that. All religion is BS!!!
Please don't take my comment the wrong way. You know what I say when I see a bunch of Italians carrying a one ton effigy of the Virgin Mary down the street?
fools.
I think the most amazing part of the whole story is a cop arrested a Rabbi....Really?!
Were the charges dropped?
Google: Sivan Kurzberg.
looks like a big cross formation to me
If you look at it a certain way it looks like you would be standing at the foot of the cross looking up at Christ being crucified. But I don't think that was their intention when they gathered.
Who's that guy wearing black to the left of mid center? He looks familiar. Does he work at B&H Photo?
Brian: I'm not the Messiah! Will you please listen? I am not the Messiah, do you understand? Honestly!
Girl: Only the true Messiah denies His divinity.
Brian: What? Well, what sort of chance does that give me? All right! I am the Messiah!
Followers: He is! He is the Messiah!
Brian: Now, f*ck off!
[silence]
Arthur: How shall we f*ck off, O Lord?
Ah yes. Let us soak in the spiritual tranquilty of the BQE.
Someone should tell them that their math is a bit off.
(*not it)
I find it disturbing that majority of the people writing in this blog can only write stupid ridiculous comments about the ceremony that took place this morning. It was a peaceful religous event but it seems that yet again all small minded people can do is put a negative spin on it. If was a christian / muslim ceremony would the stupid comments continue? How pathetic.
If it were a Christian ceremony, almost definitely.
Your lack of faith disturbs me.
There is an interesting article in the Times on this. It deals with most of the comments and humor posted so far.
check it out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/us/04religion.html?em
There is an interesting article in the Times on this. It deals with most of the comments and humor posted so far.
check it out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/us/04religion.html?em