REMINDER: TONIGHT!!

14 Elul 5785

A Blessing for a Lunar or Solar Eclipse?

By Menachem Posner

There are special blessings that we make whenever we witness particularly wondrous natural phenomena. Eclipses, however, are not listed among the wonders for which we make a blessing.

The Talmud tells us that a solar eclipse is a bad omen for the entire world, which runs according to the solar calendar, and a lunar eclipse is considered a bad sign for the Jewish nation, who calculate the duration of months according to the cycles of the moon. Thus the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory, points out that eclipses should be opportunities to increase in prayer and introspection—as opposed to prompting joyous blessings. In fact, there are those who have the custom to fast after seeing a lunar eclipse, because it is a sign that we really could and should be doing better.

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While Jewish tradition has long been accepting of the basic scientific explanations for the rules of the cosmos, that hasn’t stopped rabbis and commentators from looking for portents and signs in the magic and mystery of eclipses.

Indeed, from the very beginning – Genesis 1:14, to be precise – Jewish scriptural writings have referred to eclipses and their spiritual meanings. As the verse reads, “God said, ‘Let there be luminaries in the firmament of the heaven to separate between the day and the night; and they shall serve as signs…’” This passage enabled scholars throughout the centuries to direct their interpretive gazes toward the heavens and make light – as in wisdom — of it.

...The Hebrew word for eclipse is likui, or defect. The Talmud states that a likui of the sun is a bad sign for the world. More specifically, the Gemara states that the location in which the (sun) is seen in total eclipse is where folks especially need to worry. (Source)

I imagine this would apply to the moon as well as the sun.  So who should be "worried"? 

Visibility: The eclipse will be widely visible across the Eastern Hemisphere, including Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, and Antarctica. An estimated 77% of the world’s population (over 6 billion people) can see the total phase, and up to 88% will see at least some part of the eclipse (penumbral/partial). North and South America will not see this eclipse (except briefly at moonrise/moonset in a few areas).  (Source)

Asia: India, China, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Philippines, and most Middle Eastern countries. 

Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya. 

Europe: Most of Europe will see some or all of the event near moonrise, with locations like Berlin, Moscow, and London having viewing opportunities.

In other words, it includes most of our worst enemies and those at war with us.  

Now, I heard recently, and I'm sorry I can't recall the source, that since Yishmael took the moon for their symbol, any bad sign from the moon would be removed from Yisrael and given to Yishmael.  

Furthermore, it is Elul, when the King is in the field, the month when we are improving ourselves and preparing to crown Hashem our King on Rosh Hashanah.  It is during the time we read the seven haftarot of consolation.  This is a time of favor for Yisrael - Days of Awe!

Only the wicked and the truly evil need worry about what this lunar eclipse might portend for Yisrael.  Our enemies should be very worried indeed!

For the righteous, it is indicative of the geulah shleimah and the revelation of Mashiach.

...And I will perform signs in the heavens and on the earth: Blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.

The sun shall turn to darkness, and the moon to blood, prior to the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.  [Judgment Day - Rosh Hashanah!!]

And it shall come to pass that whoever shall call in the name of the Lord shall be delivered, for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be a deliverance, as the Lord said, and among the survivors whom the Lord invites. (Yoel 3:3-5)