A Solar Eclipse in Australia - What is the blessing (bracha) on a solar eclipse and is there a blessing on a solar eclipse?
Solar eclipse over Australia (Surfer's Paradise), as seen through a frosted glass screen
Last week there was a total solar eclipse in Australia. It was best seen from the north, in Cairns. While we didn’t make it all the way up there, we did make it halfway there. Akiva and I joined our friend Mia at her apartment in Surfer’s Paradise and watched the solar eclipse from her balcony. I remember learning about eclipses in school and I think I remember one happening when I was in elementary school, but I don’t remember if I was actually able to watch it or not. This is the first solar eclipse I was able to actually see.
It began at 5:57 AM, peaked at 6:57 AM, and finished by 7:57 AM. The sun was mostly covered by the moon. Unlike in Cairns, however, the view of the eclipse was only partial and so the sunlight was not entirely blocked. I was a bit disappointed that during the solar eclipse we were not plunged into darkness, although the light was less bright during the height of the eclipse.
At first, I could not even see a difference. This is especially because you must never view a solar eclipse with the naked eye. It can actually cause real and severe damage to your vision or even blind you, and very quickly, too! So always make sure you are using proper eyewear when viewing a solar eclipse. I watched the eclipse through a frosted glass screen that blocked out the sun’s harmful rays, as you can see in the photograph.
I did not make a blessing on the solar eclipse. Although we Jews do make blessings on most of the wondrous phenomena we see G-d create in nature, the eclipse is not one of these – neither solar nor lunar. In fact, an eclipse is seen as a bad omen! A solar eclipse is considered a bad omen for the world (which follows a solar calendar), while a lunar eclipse is considered a bad omen for the Jewish people (who are likened to the moon and who follow a lunar calendar). Generally, when there is an eclipse it is a sign that we Jews should increase in good deeds and should say more prayers and tehillim (psalms). Of course, there is enough suffering in galus (exile) and enough reasons that we should be doing more good deeds and saying more prayers and tehillim all the time anyway!
