A Tekes (Ceremony) for A Solar Eclipse (5784)

April 8, 2024 / 29 Adar II 5784 - A total solar eclipse will travel across North America. Is there a brachah (blessing) to say over an eclipse? Yes -- no -- maybe! (What did you expect?)

ALEF) There are three general brachot for experiencing awe-inspiring or beautiful natural phenomena. Two of these brachot seem originally to have corresponded to the categories of awe-inspiring events (comets, earthquakes, lightning, thunder, and stormy winds) and awe-inspiring vistas (oceans, great rivers, high hills and mountains, and deserts). Over the generations, Jewish sources have disagreed about which brachah was for which category, while at the same time permitting the substitution of one brachah for the other. This gives us a lot of flexibility. The third brachah is for seeing beautiful sights in nature, including beautiful people.

(There are also specific brachot for seeing an ocean, a rainbow, blossoming trees, and a variety of things one sees, tastes, smells, and hears, both ordinary and extraordinary. There are also brachot acknowledging "daily miracles" at multiple places in the daily services.)

The first of the two "awe" brachot acknowledges Creation itself. This one has come to be recited for all of the listed phenomena except for thunder, which by its nature fills the universe around us with a sense of strength and power. (Though why not earthquakes for the same reason?)

The second brachah is recited for thunder and other powerful experiences:

The third brachah is for seeing nature's beauty:

And of course, Shehecheyanu is appropriate if you haven't seen an eclipse in, say, 30 days!! (This is the length of time after which one says Shehecheyanu when one hasn't seen a beloved friend.) Since solar eclipses never come month after month, this means it is always appropriate... MUSIC: Tzvika Pik

BET) The general rabbinic answer about saying a brachah over an eclipse has been "No," citing an eclipse as a "diminution" of the sun and also as a bad omen, plus it's not listed in among the awe-inspiring phenomna. But there are strong reasons to say "Yes" as well. (Jewish sources are listed at the end; see especially Rabbi Dov Linzer, "Solar Eclipse: To Bless or Not To Bless?") Plus, a brachah is not the only possible way to respond in prayer.

So I present here options to mix and match during the eclipse. But first: At what point(s) during the eclipse?

GIMMEL) An eclipse has several stages. For a full eclipse, they are:

In the path of a partial eclipse, #2-4 are replaced by the time of maximum coverage and maximum darkness.

There is a universe of difference between experiencing a partial and total eclipse.

During totality, the stars (and if you're very lucky, perhaps a comet) will be visible in the sky along with the sun and moon. In our creation story, Sun, moon and stars were all created together on Day 4. This is the only time that you can see all three in the sky at the same time! To me, this calls for the brachah "Maker of the works of Creation" (Alef.1 above).

I hope to see a total eclipse for the first time in a few days and perhaps I will edit this afterwards. In the meantime, section DALET offers possibilities for responding Jewishly at each stage.

DALET) Mix and match any of the following. Based on the practice for both Kiddush Levanah (sanctifying the new moon) and Birkat HaChamah (the blessing of the sun every 28 years), these psalms and brachot should be recited standing, as you are able.

A "Jewish hack": If you are uncomfortable reciting a brachah when some rabbis say not to, you can use the opening formula Baruch Eloheynu or just the word Baruch instead of the full 6-word brachah formula.

My ideal is to include the full text of each psalm, prayer, and biblical text in order at the bottom, below the Jewish and scientific sources; but that's aspirational at the moment. So I have included a quote with most sources to help you remember which is which.

Dalet.1: Recite Psalms or verses from Torah as the eclipse begins. This stage lasts an hour or more, so in between taking photographs or looking through the pinhole camera, you can recite or sing many of these:

Dalet.2: Approaching totality. In the seconds before totality, you may see "beads" of sun around the edges, or get a peek at the sun's reddish chromosphere. These brief beautiful phenomena are Shehecheyanu (Alef.4) and/or She-kachah lo b'olamo (Alef.3) moments -- don't look away to find an unfamiliar text! Learn them ahead of time!

Dalet.4) After totality or past the time of maximum darkness, as the sun is returning. This hour is probably when most people's interest wanes, so it's a good time to explore some words and music that reflect (pun intended) on what's just happened.

Psalms 148, 121, and 150 are part of both the monthly Kiddush Levanah (consecration of the new moon) and the every-28-year Birkat HaChamah (sun blessing on the "anniversary" of its creation).