SolarCity Joins Air Quality Management District, Board of Rabbis to Provide Solar Power for ‘Blessing of the Sun’ Observance

CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolarCity®, a national leader in solar power system design, financing, installation, monitoring and related services, has installed solar panels to power ner tamid lamps across Southern California. Eleven synagogues will “go solar” for the Jewish Blessing of the Sun holiday observance on Tuesday, April 7.

“Harnessing the Blessing of the Sun” is a project funded by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and administered by the Board of Rabbis of Southern California’s Social Action Committee. SolarCity will join Board of Rabbis leaders, AQMD and government officials for the ceremony at Temple Emanuel, 8844 Burton Way in Beverly Hills, Calif. Simultaneous celebrations with SolarCity-powered ner tamid lamps will take place at temples throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

The Blessing of the Sun, called Birkat HaHammah in Hebrew, falls only once every 28 years. It celebrates the return of the sun, moon, constellations and planets to their position at creation. By adding solar power to this ancient observance, synagogues will promote a centuries-old practice and symbolically “flip the switch” on a more sustainable future. The ner tamid lamps, or eternal lights, to be powered by SolarCity’s panels with clean, renewable energy, will always remain on. SolarCity custom-designed and installed each temple’s solar array, and provided eco-friendly LED bulbs for each ner tamid lamp.

“SolarCity is honored to be involved in this symbolic, environmentally beneficial project,” said Jim Cahill, SolarCity’s regional operating director in Southern California. “We are excited to help the Board of Rabbis, AQMD and synagogues from Northridge to Santa Ana celebrate the Blessing of the Sun with solar power.”

“Birkat HaHammah and Passover are times of spiritual renewal for the Jewish community, and we believe that harnessing solar energy is a powerful symbol of that renewal,” said Rabbi Mark S. Diamond, executive vice president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. “We are pleased to partner with AQMD, SolarCity, Temple Emanuel and other Southern California synagogues to sponsor this event as a springboard to increased environmental activism within our community.”

The list of participating synagogues includes:

Los Angeles County:

Adat Ari El, Valley Village

Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, Pasadena

Sinai Temple, Los Angeles

Temple Ahavat Shalom, Northridge

Temple Emanuel, Beverly Hills

Temple Isaiah, Los Angeles

University Synagogue, Brentwood

Wilshire Blvd. Temple, Los Angeles

IKAR, Los Angeles

Orange County:

Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana

Temple Beth Tikvah, Fullerton