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The Day the Sun Stood Still
TANAKH
Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still, resulting in an extended day to allow the Israelites to achieve victory over their enemies. The Book of Joshua recounts this miraculous event, emphasizing the divine intervention that enabled the Israelites to triumph in battle.
The Diminished Luminary
JEWISH THOUGHT
The sun and the moon were initially created as equal luminaries, but one was destined to be diminished. Rabbi Yom-Tov Lipmann Heller, in his commentary on Genesis, explores the mystical implications of the creation of the sun and moon, particularly focusing on the word 'מארת' and its allusion to a curse.
The Future Transformation of the Sun
MIDRASH
The sun will transform and illuminate the world with increased intensity and healing properties in the future. The medieval midrash Shemot Rabbah discusses the future redemption and the Messianic era, highlighting the sun's role in this transformation.
The Sun's Shadow and Hezekiah's Miracle
SECOND TEMPLE
The miraculous healing of King Hezekiah and the divine sign involving the sun's shadow moving backward confirm God's promise to extend his life and grant him children. Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, recounts this biblical story in his work 'The Antiquities of the Jews,' highlighting themes of faith, divine intervention, and lineage.
Light and Judgment
MUSAR
The distinction between Gentiles and Israel symbolically points towards a future transformation where Israel inherits light, while the Gentiles face judgment. Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz’s 17th-century work, Shenei Luchot HaBerit, integrates Kabbalistic concepts with traditional Jewish teachings to explore these symbolic differences, particularly focusing on the sun as a metaphor for divine illumination and judgment.
Abraham's Celestial Observations
KABBALAH
Abraham's journey to recognizing the Holy One, Blessed be He, began with his observation of celestial bodies. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, recounts how Abraham's sequential worship of different celestial entities led him to the ultimate recognition of God.
The Finite Sun
CHASIDUT
The sun, despite its immense power, is finite and limited because it is a created being. In the late 18th-century Chabad Chassidic work Tanya, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi explores the nature of God's unity and the inherent limitations of all created beings, including the sun.
Astronomical Calculations in Jewish Law
HALAKHAH
Understanding the precise astronomical and calendrical calculations is crucial for setting the dates of Jewish holidays and observances. In his monumental 12th-century legal code, the Mishneh Torah, Rambam details the positions of the sun in various constellations and the precise timing of equinoxes and solstices.
The Blessing of the Sun
HALAKHAH
Birkat ha-Hammah, the Blessing of the Sun, is a rare Jewish ritual observed only once every 28 years. Rabbi J. David Bleich’s work compiles historical and scholarly discussions on this unique observance, including astronomical and calendrical details.
Blessings for Natural Phenomena
TOSEFTA
The Tosefta provides specific blessings to be recited upon witnessing natural phenomena, reflecting a deep connection to God's creation. This early compilation of Jewish oral law includes unique perspectives on blessings for natural events, such as the sun and significant changes in the sea.
The Greater Light and the Lesser Light
TARGUM
Two celestial bodies were initially created equal, but one was diminished after falsely accusing the other. The Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, an Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Torah, provides a midrashic story about the creation and roles of these celestial bodies.
Calculating Sunrise with Modern Technology
HALAKHAH
Modern technology allows for precise calculation of sunrise times, crucial for Jewish prayer observances. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s contemporary halakhic work, Peninei Halakhah, explains how computer programs can accurately determine astronomical sunrise, ignoring natural obstructions like mountains.
The Divine Order of Celestial Bodies
LITURGY
The creation of the sun and the moon is fundamental to understanding the divine order and natural cycles established by God. The Seder Ma'amadot includes a recitation of Genesis 1:14-19, which describes the creation of celestial bodies on the fourth day.
״From the rising unto the setting of the sun the Lord's name is to be praised״, Two lions holding a Magen David, with Hebrew text from Psalms 113:3 with the word Sun on the bottom of the Magen David, printed by H. Schile, (between 1870 and 1880), Library of Congress  LCCN 89711881 jpg #11950. PD
״From the rising unto the setting of the sun the Lord's name is to be praised״, Two lions holding a Magen David, with Hebrew text from Psalms 113:3 with the word Sun on the bottom of the Magen David, printed by H. Schile, (between 1870 and 1880), Library of Congress LCCN 89711881 jpg #11950. PD
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