Blessing of the Sun in Israel

An Orthodox Jewish man wrapped in a prayer shawl participates in the Blessing of the Sun prayer in Masada, Israel, overlooking the Dead Sea. Devout Jews around the world on Wednesday observed a ritual performed only once every 28 years, saying their morning prayers under the open sky.  (Sebastian Scheiner / Associated Press)

Jewish worshipers participate in the Blessing of the Sun prayer at sunrise on the Eitam Hilltop near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Efrata.  (Kevin Frayer / Associated Press)

Orthodox Jews pray during sunrise in the Judean Desert in the West Bank above the Dead Sea. Tens of thousands of Jewish faithful blessed the sun all over Israel. The prayer is said as the sun comes up to mark what according to Jewish tradition is the sun’s return to its position at the moment that the universe was created 5,769 years ago. It returns to the spot once every 28 years.  (Menahem Kahana / AFP/Getty Images)

The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem can be seen in the background as huge crowds gather to take part in the sun blessing.  (Dan Balilty / Associated Press)

The ritual is observed in the Galilee town of Tiberias in northern Israel.  (David Silverman / Getty Images)

A participant follows along during the Blessing of the Sun.  (David Silverman / Getty Images)

Against the glow of the rising sun, devout Jews recite the rare blessing.  (Kevin Frayer / Associated Press)

One worshiper in the Israeli coastal city of Ashdod protects his eyes during the ritual.A  (Tsafrir Abayov / Associated Press)

The occasion is celebrated in Jerusalem’s Old City. Tens of thousands of worshipers stood next to the Western Wall in the walled Old City to perform the special blessing, called the Birkat Hachama in Hebrew.  (Bernat Armangue / Associated Press)