Why is Judaism Anti-Clockwise?

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We live in an anti-clockwise universe. It is the direction of:

Electrons of an atom revolving around the nucleus.
The moon revolving around the earth.
The earth rotating on its axis.
The earth and all other planets revolving around the sun.
The Milky way and all galaxies.

Islam is anticlockwise. On the first day of the Hajj, pilgrims walk around the Ka'bah seven times in an anti-clockwise direction while repeating prayers. From a brief search, Christian and Pagan ceremony also seem to be largely anti-clockwise. It seems to dominate religious circumparambulation. It prevails on running tracks and chariot racing, which probably reflects domination by right-handed and right-footed people.  

So why am I writing about this? One recent Friday evening, I was at a local synagogue where alcoholic lubrication is positively encouraged. The man-dancing was anti-clockwise as it always is (same true for Jewish festival of Sukkot and Bride circling the groom. And, for those who like to wave a chicken round their head before Yom Kippur.). I did ask someone if it was clockwise in Australia (answer: no), but then thought why always this direction? What do the Rabbis say? What does Rabbi Google suggest?

Let's get a bit kabbalistic. The right side is associated with Gods's benevolence, "Chesed". The Left side is God's Judgement, "Din". So during the festival of Sukkot and on Hoshannah Rabbah, one circles to the right. Same when called to a reading of torah scrolls (though mourners enter stage left). 

Another line seems to be a connection to the temple service of the priests. They would carry out their various functions and procedures around the altar in an anticlockwise order.

In conclusion, there does not appear to be one single reason for various Jewish ceremonies being anticlockwise, but the universe, temple and mysticism all point to that being the correct way. Clocks are clockwise because sundials in the Northern Hemisphere go that way. Amazon sells a vast array of novelty anticlockwise clocks and watches for present givers who think they are being original and funny. They aren't. 




      

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