਍㰀昀漀渀琀 猀椀稀攀㴀㐀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀戀㸀䈀氀攀猀猀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 匀甀渀㰀⼀挀攀渀琀攀爀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀℀ⴀⴀ嬀椀昀 䤀䔀崀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀℀嬀攀渀搀椀昀崀ⴀⴀ㸀ഀഀ

਍伀渀 猀漀洀攀 漀挀挀愀猀椀漀渀猀 琀椀洀攀 瀀愀猀猀攀猀 琀漀漀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀㬀 漀琀栀攀爀 琀椀洀攀猀 椀琀 椀猀 琀栀攀 漀瀀瀀漀猀椀琀攀⸀  刀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 ഀഀ the next twenty four hours probably seems like an eternity. ਍㰀倀㸀ഀഀ But imagine if you had been waiting years, not hours, for an event to arrive. ਍㰀倀㸀ഀഀ I once had the opportunity to hear Tom Wilson, President of the Palace of Auburn Hills, recalling how ਍栀攀 眀愀猀 愀氀氀 猀攀琀 琀漀 眀愀琀挀栀 琀栀攀 䐀攀琀爀漀椀琀 䰀椀漀渀猀 瀀氀愀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 一䘀䰀 挀栀愀洀瀀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀 最愀洀攀 椀渀 ㄀㤀㔀㜀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 猀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀 吀漀洀ᤀ猠 ഀഀ mother said: “No football today, we’re going to Grandma’s house.” When Tom began to protest, his mother ਍爀攀瀀氀椀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ吠栀攀 渀攀砀琀 琀椀洀攀 琀栀攀 䰀椀漀渀猀 愀爀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀洀瀀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀 最愀洀攀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 眀愀琀挀栀 琀栀攀洀⸀ᴀ† 䤀琀ᤀ猠 㔀㄀ ഀഀ years later, and we are still waiting. ਍㰀倀㸀ഀഀ I guess we shouldn’t complain. Imagine what it’s like for fans of the Chicago Cubs, 100 years and still ਍眀愀椀琀椀渀最 昀漀爀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 眀漀爀氀搀 挀栀愀洀瀀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀⸀ഀഀ

਍圀栀愀琀 椀昀 礀漀甀 眀攀爀攀 愀 昀愀渀 漀昀 愀猀琀爀漀渀漀洀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀愀椀琀椀渀最 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 爀攀愀瀀瀀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀 漀昀 䠀愀氀氀攀礀ᤀ猠 䌀漀洀攀琀⸀  夀漀甀 眀漀甀氀搀 渀攀攀搀 ഀഀ to wait until 2061. I don’t know about you, but if I live that long, I will be 102. ਍㰀倀㸀ഀഀ So, it should be exciting for you to learn that soon an event will take place that happens only once in ਍㈀㠀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 猀瀀攀挀椀昀椀挀愀氀氀礀 漀渀 䄀瀀爀椀氀 㠀Ⰰ ㈀　　㤀⸀   䤀琀 椀猀 琀栀攀 搀愀礀 瀀爀椀漀爀 琀漀 倀愀猀猀漀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 䔀爀攀瘀 倀攀猀愀挀栀 愀猀 眀攀 挀愀氀氀 椀琀⸀  ഀഀ On that morning, our minyan will have more than the usual number. There will be first born attending a ਍吀愀氀洀甀搀 猀椀礀礀甀洀 琀漀 漀瘀攀爀爀椀搀攀 琀栀攀椀爀 昀愀猀琀 搀愀礀⸀  倀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 漀琀栀攀爀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 挀漀洀椀渀最 琀漀 愀爀爀愀渀最攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 猀愀氀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀洀攀琀稀⸀ഀഀ

਍䈀甀琀 䤀 甀爀最攀 礀漀甀 琀漀 樀漀椀渀 甀猀 琀栀愀琀 搀愀礀 昀漀爀 愀 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀 漀挀挀愀猀椀漀渀⸀  䄀渀搀 瀀氀愀渀 琀漀 愀爀爀椀瘀攀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 攀愀爀氀椀攀爀 琀栀愀渀 甀猀甀愀氀⸀  ഀഀ When the sun rises at 6:28, we will recite a simple yet overwhelming statement of awe—the berakhah, oseh ਍洀愀ᤀ愠猀攀栀 瘀ᤀ爠攀椀猀栀椀琀㰀⼀䤀㸀᐀䜠漀搀 椀猀 琀栀攀 伀渀攀 眀栀漀 栀愀猀 洀愀搀攀 琀栀椀猀 䄀挀琀 漀昀 䌀爀攀愀琀椀漀渀℀ഀഀ

਍䈀椀爀欀愀琀 䠀愀挀栀愀洀愀栀Ⰰ 氀椀琀攀爀愀氀氀礀 琀栀攀 戀氀攀猀猀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 匀甀渀Ⰰ 漀挀挀甀爀猀 攀瘀攀爀礀 ㈀㠀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 愀氀眀愀礀猀 漀渀 愀 圀攀搀渀攀猀搀愀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 ഀഀ Springtime, not always on Erev Pesach—that’s an unusual coincidence this time around. Since 1900, the ਍䈀氀攀猀猀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 匀甀渀 栀愀猀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 漀挀挀甀爀爀攀搀 漀渀 䄀瀀爀椀氀 㠀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 椀琀 眀椀氀氀 挀栀愀渀最攀 琀漀 䄀瀀爀椀氀 㤀 椀渀 琀栀攀 渀攀砀琀 挀攀渀琀甀爀礀⸀ഀഀ

਍䤀昀 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 瀀愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀爀氀礀 氀椀欀攀 洀愀琀栀Ⰰ 猀琀漀瀀 氀椀猀琀攀渀椀渀最 爀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀⸀  䤀ᤀ氠氀 氀攀琀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀攀渀 琀漀 琀甀渀攀 椀渀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ഀഀ

਍圀栀愀琀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀猀 攀瘀攀爀礀 ㈀㠀 礀攀愀爀猀 椀猀 愀猀 昀漀氀氀漀眀猀㨀ഀഀ

਍䰀攀琀ᤀ猠 猀琀愀爀琀 愀琀 ㄀㈀ 渀漀漀渀 漀渀 愀 瀀愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀爀 圀攀搀渀攀猀搀愀礀Ⰰ 䄀瀀爀椀氀 㠀⸀  䄀琀 琀栀愀琀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 椀猀 愀 瀀愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀爀 ഀഀ alignment between the earth and the sun. Now let’s assume (albeit incorrectly) that the time until ਍琀栀椀猀 猀愀洀攀 愀氀椀最渀洀攀渀琀 漀挀挀甀爀猀 椀猀 攀砀愀挀琀氀礀 ㌀㘀㔀⸀㈀㔀 搀愀礀猀⸀  吀栀愀琀 洀攀愀渀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 礀攀愀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 愀渀渀椀瘀攀爀猀愀爀礀 ഀഀ of this alignment will be on Thursday, April 8, at 6 p.m. The following year, it will be Friday at ਍洀椀搀渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 匀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀 愀琀 㘀 愀⸀洀⸀Ⰰ 攀琀挀⸀Ⰰ 攀琀挀⸀Ⰰ 攀琀挀⸀  吀栀爀漀眀 椀渀 愀 䘀攀戀爀甀愀爀礀 ㈀㤀 攀瘀攀爀礀 昀漀甀爀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 ഀഀ anniversary keeps coming back to April 8. After 28 such anniversaries, the same alignment of earth and sun ਍昀椀渀愀氀氀礀 爀攀琀甀爀渀猀 琀漀 圀攀搀渀攀猀搀愀礀 愀琀 渀漀漀渀⸀  吀爀礀 椀琀 愀琀 栀漀洀攀Ⰰ 椀琀 爀攀愀氀氀礀 眀漀爀欀猀⸀  䤀昀 礀漀甀 洀漀瘀攀 昀漀爀眀愀爀搀 ㄀밀 搀愀礀猀Ⰰ ഀഀ it will always take 28 such cycles to return to the same day, same time. Notice I didn’t say: Same Bat Day, ਍匀愀洀攀 䈀愀琀 吀椀洀攀⸀ഀഀ

਍伀䬀Ⰰ 䴀愀琀栀 栀愀琀攀爀猀᐀椠琀ᤀ猠 瀀爀漀戀愀戀氀礀 猀愀昀攀 琀漀 猀琀愀爀琀 氀椀猀琀攀渀椀渀最 愀最愀椀渀⸀ऀഀഀ

਍一漀眀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 愀渀渀椀瘀攀爀猀愀爀礀 愀爀攀 眀攀 挀攀氀攀戀爀愀琀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀栀礀 椀猀 椀琀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 漀渀 愀 圀攀搀渀攀猀搀愀礀㼀  䤀琀 椀猀 琀栀攀 猀甀渀 椀琀猀攀氀昀Ⰰ ഀഀ which was created on the Fourth Day. ਍㰀倀㸀ഀഀ The math is wrong (a solar year is actually slightly less than 365.25 days), the science is suspicious, ਍戀甀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀渀挀攀瀀琀 椀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 昀愀猀挀椀渀愀琀椀渀最Ⰰ 攀搀甀挀愀琀椀漀渀愀氀 愀渀搀 猀瀀椀爀椀琀甀愀氀氀礀 洀攀愀渀椀渀最昀甀氀⸀ഀഀ

਍刀椀最栀琀 漀昀昀 琀栀攀 戀愀琀Ⰰ 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀 愀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀⸀  䤀渀 漀甀爀 䴀愀挀栀稀漀爀 眀攀 搀攀挀氀愀爀攀 琀栀愀琀 吀椀猀栀爀攀 椀猀 琀栀攀 戀椀爀琀栀搀愀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀Ⰰ ഀഀ at least the beginning of humanity. ਍㰀倀㸀ऀഀഀ The Talmud, surprise, surprise, reflects a disagreement—whether the world was created in Tishre or Nisan. ਍圀攀 栀愀爀搀氀礀 攀瘀攀爀 愀挀欀渀漀眀氀攀搀最攀 琀栀攀 一椀猀愀渀 漀瀀椀渀椀漀渀᐀愠昀琀攀爀 愀氀氀 一椀猀愀渀 椀猀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 攀渀漀甀最栀 樀甀猀琀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 倀愀猀猀漀瘀攀爀᐀甠渀琀椀氀 ഀഀ now that is, when we once again celebrate the creation of the sun. ਍㰀倀㸀ऀഀഀ Lesson Number One: Our knowledge of the universe, though growing each year, is nonetheless limited. We will ਍渀攀瘀攀爀 戀攀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 瀀椀渀 搀漀眀渀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 搀攀琀愀椀氀猀⸀  吀栀椀猀 椀猀 愀 最漀漀搀 琀栀椀渀最⸀  䤀琀 椀猀 栀甀洀戀氀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀愀琀 椀猀 愀 氀攀猀猀漀渀 眀攀 ഀഀ all need to learn, especially on Yom Kippur. ਍㰀倀㸀ऀഀഀ Lesson Number Two: Even if we are not certain, there is strength in joining together as a world Jewish ਍䌀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀礀 琀漀 瀀攀爀昀漀爀洀 愀 爀椀琀甀愀氀⸀  吀栀愀琀 椀猀 琀栀攀 瀀漀眀攀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀猀攀 䠀椀最栀 䠀漀氀礀 䐀愀礀猀 琀栀攀洀猀攀氀瘀攀猀⸀  䔀瘀攀渀 椀昀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 ഀഀ created exactly on Rosh Hashanah, these Fall holidays will not be changed, and will always have meaning to the ਍䨀攀眀椀猀栀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀⸀  䄀渀搀 猀漀 椀猀 琀栀攀 戀氀攀猀猀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 匀甀渀 攀瘀攀爀礀 ㈀㠀 礀攀愀爀猀 漀渀 圀攀搀渀攀猀搀愀礀Ⰰ 䄀瀀爀椀氀 㠀Ⰰ 挀栀愀渀最椀渀最 琀漀 䄀瀀爀椀氀 㤀 椀渀 ഀഀ the next century. ਍㰀倀㸀ऀഀഀ Lesson Number Three: 28 years is a long time, but we are people who learn that patience and self discipline ਍氀攀愀搀 琀漀 愀 洀漀爀攀 洀攀愀渀椀渀最昀甀氀 氀椀昀攀⸀  䬀攀攀瀀 挀漀甀渀琀椀渀最Ⰰ 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 最椀瘀攀 甀瀀⸀  䐀漀渀ᤀ琠 氀漀猀攀 栀漀瀀攀⸀ഀഀ

਍䄀 猀挀椀攀渀琀椀猀琀Ⰰ 最椀瘀椀渀最 愀 氀攀挀琀甀爀攀Ⰰ 搀攀挀氀愀爀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀 眀椀氀氀 攀渀搀 椀渀 㔀 戀椀氀氀椀漀渀 礀攀愀爀猀⸀  䄀 洀愀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀甀搀椀攀渀挀攀 ഀഀ gave out an audible gasp. The woman next to him said, “what’s wrong, it’s 5 billion years.” The man seemed ਍爀攀氀椀攀瘀攀搀⸀  ᰀ䤠 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 栀攀 猀愀椀搀 㔀 洀椀氀氀椀漀渀⸀ᴀഠഀ

਍䰀攀猀猀漀渀 一甀洀戀攀爀 䘀漀甀爀㨀 䤀渀 爀攀挀椀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀 䈀氀攀猀猀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 匀甀渀Ⰰ 眀攀 愀爀攀 渀漀琀 眀漀爀猀栀椀瀀椀渀最 琀栀攀 猀甀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 爀愀琀栀攀爀 攀砀瀀爀攀猀猀椀渀最 ഀഀ gratitude to the Creator of the Sun—oseh ma’aseh v’reishit. Moreover, we are expressing fascination ਍眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 椀渀 眀栀椀挀栀 䜀漀搀 挀爀攀愀琀攀搀᐀琠栀爀漀甀最栀 眀漀爀搀猀⸀  䄀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 搀愀礀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 䜀漀搀 搀攀挀氀愀爀攀搀㨀 䰀攀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 戀攀 氀椀最栀琀㬀 ഀഀ on the fourth day, God also spoke the creation, saying: yehi m’orot—let there be luminaries in the sky. ਍㰀倀㸀ऀഀഀ Sherlock Holmes once said, “Watson, when you look straight above you, what do you think?” Watson replied, ਍ᰀ䤠 猀攀攀 琀栀攀 洀漀漀渀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀爀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䤀 琀栀椀渀欀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 眀漀渀搀攀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀 甀渀椀瘀攀爀猀攀 愀渀搀 漀昀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 挀爀攀愀琀椀漀渀⸀  圀栀愀琀 搀漀 ഀഀ you think, Holmes?” “I think someone has stolen our tent.” ਍㰀倀㸀ऀഀഀ People come to see me with a variety of concerns. But I have found that what most of these issues have in ਍挀漀洀洀漀渀 椀猀㨀 氀漀猀猀 漀昀 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀⸀  夀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 猀栀愀爀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 洀攀 礀漀甀爀 昀攀愀爀 搀甀爀椀渀最 椀氀氀渀攀猀猀 漀昀 氀漀猀椀渀最 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀 漀瘀攀爀 戀漀搀椀氀礀 ഀഀ functions. And you have shared your despondency when people in your family—often your children or ਍瀀愀爀攀渀琀猀᐀洠愀欀攀 挀栀漀椀挀攀猀 礀漀甀 搀椀猀愀瀀瀀爀漀瘀攀 漀昀Ⰰ 礀攀琀 礀漀甀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 搀漀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀 漀琀栀攀爀 琀栀愀渀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀椀渀最 愀渀搀 洀漀瘀攀 昀漀爀眀愀爀搀⸀ഀഀ

਍䄀挀欀渀漀眀氀攀搀最椀渀最 氀漀猀猀 漀昀 挀漀渀琀爀漀氀 椀猀 瀀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀Ⰰ 礀攀琀 渀攀挀攀猀猀愀爀礀 猀琀攀瀀 椀渀 戀攀椀渀最 愀 栀甀洀愀渀 戀攀椀渀最⸀  ഀഀ Here, too, the Blessing of the Sun, is instructive. We don’t choose the item, the date or even the words. ਍圀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 挀栀漀漀猀攀 栀漀眀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀 眀愀猀 挀爀攀愀琀攀搀⸀  夀攀琀 眀攀 愀爀攀 最爀愀琀攀昀甀氀 樀甀猀琀 琀漀 戀攀 栀攀爀攀⸀ഀഀ

਍刀愀渀搀礀 倀愀甀猀挀栀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 渀漀眀 昀愀洀漀甀猀 搀攀氀椀瘀攀爀攀爀 漀昀 㰀椀㸀吀栀攀 䰀愀猀琀 䰀攀挀琀甀爀攀㰀⼀椀㸀Ⰰ 琀漀 眀栀漀洀 䤀 眀椀氀氀 爀攀昀攀爀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀洀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰ 瀀甀琀 椀琀 戀攀猀琀 ഀഀ when he said: (In life) you have to play the hand you are dealt. ਍㰀倀㸀ऀഀഀ The funny thing is, all the lessons inherent in the Blessing of the Sun, shouldn’t have to wait 28 years to ਍戀攀 氀攀愀爀渀攀搀⸀  圀攀 挀愀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀漀甀氀搀Ⰰ 挀攀氀攀戀爀愀琀攀 挀爀攀愀琀椀漀渀 洀甀挀栀 洀漀爀攀 漀昀琀攀渀⸀  吀栀愀琀 椀猀 眀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 匀栀愀戀戀愀琀 椀猀 愀氀氀 ഀഀ about—take a step back, give up some control over nature, marvel at God’s creation and be just grateful ਍愀渀搀 愀琀 瀀攀愀挀攀 眀椀琀栀 礀漀甀爀 瀀氀愀挀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀⸀ഀഀ

਍一漀琀 漀渀氀礀 漀渀挀攀 愀 眀攀攀欀 漀渀 匀栀愀戀戀愀琀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 攀瘀攀爀礀搀愀礀Ⰰ 眀攀 挀愀渀 猀琀漀瀀 洀漀爀攀 漀昀琀攀渀 琀漀 愀搀洀椀爀攀 琀栀攀 戀攀愀甀琀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀Ⰰ ഀഀ and express our gratitude to God—as we are about to eat, but also as we notice the wonders of nature and ਍漀昀 漀甀爀 漀眀渀 戀漀搀椀攀猀⸀  吀栀攀猀攀 愀爀攀 琀栀攀 㰀椀㸀戀攀爀愀欀栀漀琀㰀⼀椀㸀⸀ഀഀ

਍圀栀椀挀栀 戀爀椀渀最猀 甀猀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 夀漀洀 䬀椀瀀瀀甀爀⸀  䄀 搀愀礀 琀漀 戀攀 琀爀甀氀礀 栀甀洀戀氀攀 愀渀搀 愀瀀瀀爀攀挀椀愀琀椀瘀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 戀氀攀猀猀椀渀最猀 椀渀 漀甀爀 ഀഀ lives. ਍㰀倀㸀ऀഀഀ Will you join us at sunrise on April 8? Or will you take a chance and wait until 2037? ਍㰀倀㸀ഀഀ