Jewish Blessing of the Sun, Solar Energy and the Rebbe

Long before solar energy became a mainstream climate solution, one prominent Jewish leader was already calling for its adoption. In this talk, Rabbi Yonatan Neril explores the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who stressed the obligation to shift toward solar energy in the United States due to the detrimental environmental effects caused by gas and oil dependency. Drawing on the Jewish tradition of the Blessing of the Sun — a rare ritual performed once every 28 years — Rabbi Neril connects this ancient practice to a strikingly modern environmental message, highlighting the Rebbe’s insight that “the real gift of God is the possibility to harness solar energy.”

This reflection reframes renewable energy not as a purely technological or political issue, but as a spiritual imperative rooted in Jewish teaching, demonstrating how religious tradition can anticipate and reinforce contemporary environmental solutions. This talk adds a compelling historical and theological dimension to the case for clean energy adoption.