Rosh Chodesh Moon Circle at Ner Shalom The Origins of Rosh Chodesh (taken from At The Well (atthewellproject.com) The marking of time has been important for the Jewish people since the moment of leaving slavery in Egypt. The very first commandment G-d gave in the Book of Exodus, while the Jews wandered through the desert from slavery to the promised land, was for the Jewish people to mark each new moon. From this, we learn that the meaning of freedom is intertwined with agency over our own time. Each new month is another reminder of this freedom. In biblical days, there were no written calendars to consult. Instead, two designated New Moon-seekers would climb to the top of a hill and wait for a clear sky, since Rosh Chodesh occurs when there is the first sliver of the moon after a completely dark sky. When they were absolutely sure that there was a sliver of light, they’d report their findings back to the Great Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish court. Then, someone would climb to the top of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (a very steep climb!) with a long pole of cedar, reeds, and olive. They’d set the pole on fire until someone on another hilltop saw them, then that person would light a fire until they saw a third person on the hill over, and this would go on until the message reached the edges of Babylonia. Talk about the illuminating power of Rosh Chodesh! How Did Rosh Chodesh Become a Holiday for Women? The entire Jewish people received the teaching to honor Rosh Chodesh. But over time, it became especially associated as a time for women. One explanation, offered by a Medieval rabbi, teaches that when all the men decided to create the Golden Calf, the women refused to relinquish their jewelry and participate. Their bravery and faith in G-d resulted in the reward of a special holiday to rest, reflect, and reset every month. (So this holiday is also a commemoration of the power of resisting the patriarchy!) Rosh Chodesh offers us a time every month to honor the Shechinah, the feminine mystical aspect of the Divine. The waxing and waning of the moon also resembles the menstrual cycle. For menstruators, Rosh Chodesh can be a way to connect more deeply with our bodies and the internal “clock” of our fertility cycle. Whether or not you menstruate, committing to Rosh Chodesh rituals can offer a modern Jewish well-being practice rooted in ancient tradition and a way to honor our brave female ancestors. So is this only for women? Nope! Women of all stripes, Trans people, and Non-binary folx are invited. (Katie Simon, creator of this document, is non-binary herself). What will we do? We’re still figuring that out! But we have a Moon Manual from the organization ‘At the Well’ to guide us in the overall structure and guided teachings and practices. These will change every month depending on the theme but will include writing, art, dance, meditation and relaxation along with time to connect and share with the other members of the Moon Circle. Why Celebrate? For everyone: We’re feeling the need for community. To come together and get negative feelings out while setting ourselves up for the Month feeling good. To realize just how much support and caring are around us and ready to hold us. For Jews: Reclaiming Rosh Chodesh is a way to connect to ancient foremothers and bring their wisdom and steadfastness into our lives currently embroiled in upheaval. We will honor the sacredness in our souls and honor the Feminine Divine of the Shekhinah. We will honor each other and ourselves. We will engage with the full breadth and depth of our joy and our pain. What will this look like? When you arrive at Ner Shalom, we will greet you with a tallit or shawl and a blessing. Bring your own if you have it. This can be a pashmina scarf, shawl or tallit if you have one! We will make sure to have something beautiful to wrap you in if you don’t. Then we will Reset, Reflect and Transform with different guided teachings and practices. This could be: journaling, making art, transcendent dance, meditation, etc. We intend this to be a safe space to share your worries, your joys, even your rage. We hope to leave the space restored, grounded, and ready to embrace the month ahead! RSVP https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdki7w21OynokQ-vchS0R2HfPcbgcMU2kGBss2aKQloiwX5lA/viewform or if you have any questions text Katie Simon @ 267-992-7895