time for "Birchat Hachama"
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Why is 2009 (5769) Such a Special Year for Jews Worldwide?
Because this year our sun returns to the exact spot it
occupied at the time of Creation something that happens only once
every 28 years!
To celebrate this special occasion, the Jewish people
across the world recite "The Sun's Special Blessing" which is known
as "Birkat Hachamah" in Hebrew.
Every twenty-eight years this Hebrew blessing for the sun is recited.
The next date set is April 8, 2009 in the Hebrew year, 5769.
At this time, the sun returns to the position that it was,
when the Universe was first created. Every 28 years, as the Jewish
community celebrates the return of the sun to its original place in
the heavens at the precise time and day of its creation, this prayer
is universally accepted as part of Jewish law.
The Sun's Special Blessing (Pitspopany Press, March
2009) tells the story of a third grade class learning about this
special blessing with their teacher Mr. Jacobs.
Mr. Jacobs tells the class that when he was in third grade, his class
buried a time capsule that they filled with wonderful mementos from
1981. As they buried their time capsule, his class recited the
special blessing on the sun.
With shovels in hand, Mr. Jacobs marches his third grade
class outside to find the exact spot where he helped bury the time
capsule. When they open it, the class discovers the "ancient"
artifacts that were so popular in the world 28 years earlier.
Now it's their turn to say the special blessing on the
sun and put into the time capsule what they think represents their
world of 2009.
What would you put into the time capsule?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sandy Wasserman has taught Gifted and Talented students in NYC and
Long Island for many years. The sun and the moon have always
intrigued her. Travel, paleontology and genealogy are among her
varied interests. She lives with her husband on Long Island, NY,
where she enjoys reading and swimming as much as possible, though not
at the same time.
In 1981 Sandy's third grade students buried their time
capsule for the 2009 "Sun's Special Blessing."
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Ann D. Koffsky is the illustrator of over 20 Jewish books for
children including "Eight Lights for Eight Nights" (Barron's
Educational Series), and "My Cousin Tamar Lives in Israel" (URJ
Press), which was named a 2008 Notable Book Winner by the Association
of Jewish Libraries.
Ann created the illustrations in this book by layering
paper-cuts over painted backgrounds. She lives in West Hempstead with
her husband, Mark, and their three children.
Title: The Sun's Special Blessing
Author: Sandy Wasserman Illustrator: Ann D. Koffsky
Publisher: Pitspopany Press Pub Date: March 2009
ISBN: 978-1-934440-92-6 Hard Cover: $17.95 US
This book is available through Ingram, Baker & Taylor or via the
publisher directly: FAX: 1 866 205 3966 Schools and libraries are
eligible for discounts. Please call 1-212-444-1657 to order.
Stuart Schnee
Public Relations, Marketing & Sales
US Tel: 973-796-2753
Israel Tel: +972-54-790-9120
Fax: +972-2-561-0943
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Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
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