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The Sun's Special Blessing

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Every 28 years, the sun returns to the spot it occupied at the time of creation. The year 2009 (5769 on the Hebrew calendar) was one of those occasions. To celebrate this event, Jewish people around the world recited a special blessing. In The Sun's Special Blessing, Mr. Jacobs tells his third-grade Hebrew school students that when he was in third grade, his class buried a time capsule filled with mementoes from 1981. As they buried their time capsule, the class recited the special blessing for the sun. With shovels in hand, Mr. Jacobs and his students march out to unearth the time capsule with its treasures. Now it is their turn to fill their own time capsule with their special artifacts and for them to bless the sun. Although April 8, 2009, the date to say this special blessing, has passed, children may enjoy this story and may be interested to know that the next time for saying the blessing will be April 8, 2037 (Nissan 23, 5797). Interesting discussions may include how many more years until the next blessing, what each child would want to put into a time capsule, what they think represents their world. Colorful paper cut illustrations help to tell the story. Ages 8 - 10. Diane Rauchwerger

The Sun's Special Blessing tells the story of a third grade class learning about the passage of time with the help of their teacher, Mr. Jacobs, and his old time capsule. But the children in Mr. Jacobs's class learn more than what happened in 1981, when he was in third grade. Mr. Jacobs's class learns that according to the Hebrew calendar, the sun gives a special blessing only every 28 years, and 2009 just happens to be the special year.



With shovels in hand, the children in Mr. Jacobs's class uncover the wonders from his third-grade year and bury their own time capsule, filling it with the treasures of 2009. As they bury the time capsule, Mr. Jacobs and his class recite the special blessing on the sun.



Sandy Wasserman does a wonderful job sharing the Sun's Blessing, a special occasion celebrated by Jewish people around the world, with children in the Jewish faith and from other religious backgrounds. With vivid colors and whimsical flair, illustrator Ann D. Koffsky makes the experience vibrant and full of wonder for little ones.



Even if you're not of the Jewish faith, this is one book I recommend to everyone. The story not only describes a special event in the Jewish faith, but also shows the importance of remembering our past, recognizing that things change over time, realizing that some things, no matter how small, will always remain significant to people, and celebrating life.