The world will soon be witness to one of the most spectacular events in the universe.
On August 21 the sky will suddenly go dark in the middle of the day. The temperature will noticeably drop by many degrees in a few short moments. Birds will stop chirping and flee back to their nests. And millions of Americans will gather under the heavens, from Oregon to South Carolina, to view the first total solar eclipse to cross America in many decades.
It is an awesome spectacle – and throughout history, in many eras and in countless cultures, its occurrence was fraught with fear and consternation. For those who lacked the scientific knowledge to understand the temporary darkness due to the coverage of the sun by the overlapping of the moon, superstition bred many myths and fanciful folklore. The very word eclipse comes to us by way of old French from the Greek for abandonment or forsaking – as if the sudden darkness expressed divine displeasure so severe that God chose to temporarily remove the gift of his presence.
How do Jewish sources view a solar eclipse?
At the very beginning of the Torah, Jewish biblical commentators find a direct allusion to the phenomenon of an eclipse: “And God said, ‘Let there be luminaries in the expanse of the heavens … and they shall be for signs and for appointed seasons and for days and years’” (Genesis 1:14). What is the meaning of “for signs”? The classical commentary of Rashi tells us this refers to the times when the luminaries are eclipsed – and “this is an unfavorable omen for the world”!
Does that mean that we ought to now be very afraid?
Remarkably, Rashi concludes his commentary with a reference to words from the prophet Jeremiah: “… As it is said ‘And from the signs of the heaven be not dismayed, etc’ (Jeremiah 10:2) When you perform the will of the Holy One, blessed be He, you need not fear retribution.”
If an eclipse is a prediction of imminent divine punishment, as Rashi inferred from the verse, why would Rashi immediately negate that very idea with a quote advising us not to be dismayed or fearful of heavenly signs? The answer is profound and rooted in the supreme importance Jews attach to the concept of free will, the ability of mankind to directly affect their destiny by virtue of their self-chosen actions. The concept of Greek fate runs counter to Jewish thought; fate can be altered by faith. As the High Holy Day formula puts it, “Repentance, prayer, and charity override the evil decree.”
It's a moment that reminds us of God’s awesome power and goodness.
An eclipse may be an omen but it is not a verdict or a final judgment. It is a moment in time which serves as a reminder of God’s awesome power and goodness. Without the benefit of the sun, its light, its warmth, its power, its energy and its role in the solar system, we could not survive for a moment. That is why, with infinite wisdom and at preordained times on the calendar, God removes us from its rays for the briefest of times so that we might reflect on the miracle of its otherwise constant presence which we so readily take for granted. It is that which the Torah refers to as “a sign.”
A sign asks us to take note. It has a message. Fail to heed it and suffer the consequences reserved for those who take God’s gifts which make life possible for granted. It is not hard to believe that the Creator of the universe built signposts predicated on natural law as ongoing reminders for mankind.
The awesome message of an eclipse and its meaning for us has a remarkable parallel to a universal Jewish custom.
It is extremely important, NASA and other experts tell us, that we cover our eyes and not look directly at the sun when it happens. Failure to heed this counsel could lead to blindness. I cannot help but think of the very same admonition to cover our eyes when we recite the Shema. At the moment when we contemplate God’s uniqueness and greatness we indicate that His splendor is beyond the capacity of our vision; to think we truly see His essence with the limited perspective of our eyes is to be blind to the reality of His infinite magnificence.
The eclipse reminds us of a universe so much vaster than our ability to fully comprehend. Don't fear it, rather welcome it as a sign, as the Psalmist King David reminded us, that “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”(Psalms 19:1).
(14) Jason White, October 13, 2019 4:46 PM
What about the 2 Texas eclipses 177 days, 7 months apart?
Please comment on the 2 eclipses crossing Texas. The first on October 14, 2023 and the other on April 8, 2024. The two form a cross and the October eclipse goes right over the city of Corpus Christi.
(13) Shmuel Goldstein, August 27, 2017 3:47 AM
7 Years
The 7 years between the two eclipses is also highly significant. 7 years of plenty vs. famine. One doesn't need much to see that the choices are ours to choose and make a difference.
(12) Anonymous, August 22, 2017 1:51 PM
Thank you Rabbi Blech for a positive, eloquent , well written article.
(11) Mair Zvi, August 21, 2017 9:46 PM
Question: Why didn't our Sages institute a blessing (bracha) for seeing an eclipse?
A Possible Answer: Perhaps because they realized that gazing at the sun when making a blessing (bracha) could be dangerous to the eyes and result in blindness, chas v'sholom.
(10) Gerrie Ritchie-Cox, August 21, 2017 10:40 AM
Thank you dor your beautiful message I shall be grateful for the signs x
(9) Anonymous, August 19, 2017 6:23 AM
40 days to Ym Kippur
As of August 22nd, the day after the eclipse, there are exactly 40 days until Yom Kippur. God is giving a period of 40 days to perform charity, prayer and repentance.
(8) Anonymous, August 18, 2017 2:37 PM
lesson from the eclipse
The lesson of the eclipse is that while the moon is small and produces no light of its own, still under the right circumstances it can totally obstruct the much more powerful sun. The Jewish people too are compared to the moon. Nevertheless, He has often arranged our position so that we dominate over the much more powerful forces of the nations around us. We do not have power of our own, but rather any influence that we have reflects the abilities granted to us by HKBH through His Torah and observance of the mitzvos
(7) Mair Zvi, August 17, 2017 8:15 PM
The Heavens declare the Glory of G-d
As you watch the total solar eclipse, the shadow of the moon that blots out the sun is exactly the same size (diameter) as the sun.
We know that the sun is much larger that the moon and much farther from the Earth. Yet, to the Earthling observing the eclipse both spheres appear identical in size!
What are the odds that this is a "happy accident" resulting from blind chance or does this precision demonstrate the wisdom and plan of an intelligent Creator?
In Psalm 19, King David writes, "The Heavens declare the Glory of G-d and the Firmament the wisdom of His handiwork."
An eclipse (solar or lunar) may be one of the phenomena King David had in mind when he wrote this Psalm.
(6) Anonymous, August 17, 2017 3:11 PM
world? not exactly
From what I understand, the world will not be witness, nor will the sky suddenly go dark... except in North America on the mentioned date. What happened to Jewish perspective? The place where G-d's actions are meant for us and should be interpreted by us, is Eretz Yisrael.If you who are still stuck in the hiddennes of the American exile want to take note, take note of the fact that we have now been empowered by the Al-mighty to return to the Land where he wants us! What are you waiting for?
(5) ha, August 17, 2017 1:24 PM
Solar Vs Lunar Eclipse
According to my father, a Lunar eclipse is a bad omen for the Jewish people. A Solar eclipse is a bad sign for the nations of the world.
Rella, August 21, 2017 1:45 PM
either way
Either way, I fear, that would be an ominous sign for the Jews...things are not well for us if they are not well for the nations of the world in which we are citizens--and often scapegoats.
I choose to take Rabbi Blech's message to heart; that the sign is a message to us for strengthening awe and faith in Gd and His awesome universe
(4) Anonymous, August 16, 2017 12:21 PM
Amen! Love this perspective! Thanks for posting!
Anonymous, August 16, 2017 5:48 PM
Thank you for sharing Now I will fear not.
(3) Sholom Schonfeld, August 15, 2017 11:52 PM
Solar Eclipse is not a bad omen
According to Rabbi Boruch Hirschfeld of Cleveland, the solar eclipse is not a (bad) omen because it is a predictable event. The "Likuy Chamah" of the Talmud most likely refers to an unexpected solar flare or other solar activity that is capable of harming humans on Earth. Enjoy the eclipse!
(2) Ron Caplan, August 14, 2017 3:22 AM
One CAN llook directly at the eclipse - during totality
"NASA and other experts tell us, that we cover our eyes and not look directly at the sun when it happens"
This is false. During totality it is completely safe to look at the eclipse directly with the naked eye. This is in fact the very thing that makes the eclipse awesome to behold since the eye can then see the chromosphere and corona.
Before and after complete totality, one can NOT look at the sun without proper protection or one could go blind - but during totality, it is perfectly safe.
(1) roger m. pearlman, August 13, 2017 3:32 PM
Earth -sun -lunar ecliptic and formation
nice. also a 'Yisroel ein.. mazel'
another int. observation the approx. 400 to :1 relationship between the Sun :moon size and distance from Earth as we see 40 &10 and 400 several paces in Torah, also a multiple of 50. (8).
see Torah discovery SPIRAL's cosmological redshift hypothesis on why the Earth-Sun ecliptic is the approx center of the entire physical universe. (it is not 'flat' and it is not expanding)
also SPIRAL cosmology model's 'Draw Play' original single continent (day 3) and Lunar formation hypothesis.