Birkat Hachamah

It’s a Jewish tradition that states that every 28 years the sun returns to the same place, at the same time, and at the same day of the week . . .where it was at the moment of creation.

It turns out that today, April 8, is they day.

At dawn on Wednesday, some devout Jews around the world began observing a ritual that comes around only once every 28 years.

The Birkat Hachamah, or Blessing of the Sun, marks the moment, according to some rabbinical scholars, when the sun returns to the spot in the sky it occupied during creation.

In hundreds of places, from Israel and Italy to New Zealand and Kyrgyzstan, observant Jews planned to rise before dawn for outdoor prayers and dancing.

Full Article

More on it here and at Wikipedia.

Posted in Interesting, Spiritual | Comments Off on Birkat Hachamah

Bag of Randomness

screenshotbon062

  • I wonder how many women have made the same mistake.
  • I got an email from Microsoft yesterday thanking me for using Hotmail for ten years – yesterday was the anniversary date.
  • Since I was at a church event on Monday night, I missed House, but watched it last night on the old DVR.  Unfortunately I found out about Kutner’s suicide before I saw the episode.  Not that I’m condoning suicide, but I have to hand it to the show for bringing something totally unexpected and very dramatic.  Even visiting the online memorial and reading the notes the characters left behind was interesting.  And if 13 needs a shoulder to cry on, well, come on over, baby.
  • In case you are wondering, the actor isn’t dead, just the character.  The actor, Kal Penn, is actually leaving the show to work in the Obama administration in the White House Office of Public Liaison focusing on youth, arts and Asian-American communities.  I have to admit, at first I had a big question mark above my head, but then found out he actually taught at Pennsylvania University’s Asian American Studies Program – so he’s more knowledgeable about that subject then I first thought.
  • I like it that our local Fox news station starts the news an hour earlier than the other local networks since I can get my local news and still catch The Daily Show. What I can’t stand about our local Fox news is a segment they call the News Edge.  Basically they report on a story, and provide their very biased opinions.  Just like the mother ship, “We report, you decide.”  Yeah, righhhhht.
  • It was interesting hearing our soldiers in Iraq respond to Obama when he said that Iraq must start to secure/protect itself.
  • I need to fix some water sprinklers – perhaps that’s a project I’ll partake this weekend; as well as stain the front door, touch up paint, and clean clean clean.
  • Is this your luggage?
  • Something else need to add to the list of things I learned since I left the Baptist church . . . Maundy Thursday.  I’ll be participating in my first Maundy Thursday worship service this Thursday of all days.
  • Speaking of church, I mentioned the other day that my pastor asked for my thoughts on the new U2 album for a series of sermons he’s working on for this summer.  After the jump you can read a small part of our exchange.
  • I’ve never been much of a Christina Ricci fan.
  • If you’re one that likes to upload a photo and toy around with it to make it funny, you might like this website.
  • A website dedicated to people named Matt.
  • I saw the new Eminem video.  The song is OK, but the video is creative and funny, and he even makes fun of Tony Romo.  I would link to it, but not sure how appropriate it is, so I’ll let you find it on YouTube yourself.
  • A blog that tries to make you feel old. I think it’s intended for those of us they grew up in the 80’s.
  • I think Sharon Alfonsi of ABC news is a real talent.  CBS should have never let her go.  Damn you Katie Couric.
  • Bacon

Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | 4 Comments