The blessing of the sun – a prayer every 28 years

According to Jewish law (source: BT Berakhot 59b) eye witnesses recite the blessing of the sun at the beginning of each 28 year cycle when it is believed that the sun returns to its original position at the time of creation.

The words of the blessing are: "Blessed are You Lord our God King of the universe who does acts of creation". The last time the blessing was recited was in 1981 and the next time will be in 2037.

Jerusalem is preparing for this event and it is expected that tens of thousands of religious Jews will make their way to the Western Wall before sunrise. From 4.30 in the morning and until 6.00, bus number 1 which goes from the Central Bus Station to the Western Wall will be running along its normal route and number 2A from the northern neighborhoods. Both lines will be running at a frequency of one a minute. Bus number 2 will be running from Har Nof every ten minutes. In addition Egged will run shuttles from the neighborhoods of Ramot, Ramat Shlomo, Newe Yaakov and Bayit VeGan. Due to the closing of the Old City, line 38 will not be running and due to the closing of Shabbat Square, line 1 will run along Jaffa Street.