Essence Sheets ROSH H.ODESH: IT’S A GIRL THING! Opening Month FAST FACTS The Jewish calendar is tied to the cycles of the moon and sun. Rosh H. odesh literally means “Head of the Month.” It refers to the start of the new month. Each Jewish month has either twenty-nine or thirty days. Rosh H. odesh is a two-day holiday when the previous month contains thirty days — the last day of the old month and the first day of the new one. In ancient times, before the Jewish calendar was fixed, the sighting of the New Moon actually determined when a new month would begin. By law, the new month began when at least two witnesses observed the first sliver of the moon and reported what they saw to the court in Jerusalem. The news of the New Moon’s appearance was communicated from Jerusalem to Jewish communities throughout Israel and the world by hilltop fires. In the days of the first and second Temples (1000 BCE–70 CE), people offered special sacrifices, blew horns and recorders made out of silver, and ate festive meals on Rosh H.odesh. Since ancient times, people say special prayers in synagogue, both on Rosh H.odesh and on the Shabbat before it, called Shabbat Mevareh.im (Sabbath of Blessing). Fasting and mourning are forbidden on Rosh H.odesh. According to legend, Rosh H.odesh was given to the women of Israel because they refused to be involved in the creation of an idol. They didn’t give their jewelry to make the golden calf, although later they did give generously to the building of the mishkan (portable temple). Because of their righteousness, the women were excused from working on Rosh H.odesh. Recently, Rosh H.odesh observance has been revived among women across the country. Women meet monthly, often in one another’s homes, to share, learn, and connect with each other and their heritage in celebration of the new month. © 2001-2012 Moving Traditions. All rights reserved. © 2001-2012 Moving Traditions. 35 Opening Month Rosh H.odesh in Poetry The moon now glides toward darkness, toward rest. She retreats in order to emerge whole. She quiets in order to return and fill night with light. So too shall we make a space for ourselves. A space for renewal. —Vicki Hollander Excerpted from "An Opening Ceremony" by Vicki Hollander, published in Four Centuries of Jewish Women's Spirituality: A Sourcebook, Ellen M. Umansky and Dianne Ashton, eds. (Boston: Beacon, 1992). © 1992 Vicki Hollander. Used by permission of the author. All rights reserved. © 2001-2012 Moving Traditions. All rights reserved. © 2001-2012 Moving Traditions. 36 Opening Month ROSH H.ODESH: IT’S A GIRL THING! Essence of Tishrey FAST FACTS Traditionally, Rosh H. odesh is not observed in Tishrey. Because Rosh Hashanah, which falls on the first of Tishrey, is considered more important, we celebrate the new year instead of the new month. According to tradition, Rosh Hashanah marks the anniversary of the creation of the world. Tishrey marks the beginning of the solar year on the Jewish calendar, but it is the seventh month in the Jewish lunar cycle, which begins with the month of Nisan. In telling us to observe Rosh Hashanah, the Torah says, “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts” (Lev. 23:32). Tishrey comes at the same time as the secular months September/October. Tishrey contains the fall equinox. As the seasons change from summer to fall, we also seek changes in our lives. We hope that our journey is also colorful and bright. The mazal (constellation) for Tishrey is Libra, moznayim (a pair of scales), symbolizing scales of justice. Tishrey overflows with holy days that usher in the Jewish New Year. The four main holidays of Tishrey correspond to the four phases of the moon.1 FEATURES Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah (The New Year) is observed on Rosh H. odesh Tishrey. The Torah refers to Rosh Hashanah as Yom Teruah (The Day of Sounding the Shofar) and Yom Hazikaron (The Day of Remembering). It was not called Rosh Hashanah until talmudic times (200–600 CE). Traditionally, it is a two-day holiday; however, many Reform communities celebrate Rosh Hashanah for only one day. It is the only holiday that Jews in the Land of Israel celebrate for two days. Rosh Hashanah Customs Shofar reflects one of the names of the Holy Day (Yom Teruah). Blown one hundred times on each day of Rosh Hashanah (except, in many 1. As noted by Arthur congregations, when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat), the shofar calls I. Waskow in Seasons all Jews together and stirs us to bring out the best in ourselves. One of of Our Joy: A Modern many traditions says that the shofar blasts represent Sarah’s cries when Guide to Jewish she learned that Abraham planned to sacrifice Isaac. Sarah’s cries recall Festivals, 3rd ed. (New York: Beacon Press, women’s cries for justice for themselves and for their families throughout 1990), preface xx. history and all over the world. © 2001-2012 Moving Traditions. All rights reserved. © 2001-2012 Moving Traditions. 37 Tishrey Tashlih. (You will cast away) is a custom dating from at least as early as the fourteenth century. It is based on the last verses of the Book of Micah: “And You will cast into the depths of the sea all their sins” (7:19). Jewish communities have for many generations gathered by rivers, streams, or oceans on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, recited tashlih. prayers, and thrown bread crumbs into the water to symbolize our desire to rid ourselves of our sins. Kurdish Jews actually threw themselves into the water for tashlih.! H. asidim of Galicia sent straw floats out into the water, used candles to set them on fire, and rejoiced as they burned up or washed away.2 Greetings Traditionally, during the month of Elul and on Rosh Hashanah, we greet one another: (to a woman) Leshanah tovah tikatevi veteyh.atemi. May you be written and sealed (in the Book of Life) for a good year. (to a man) Leshanah tovah tikateyv veteyh.ateym. May you be written and sealed (in the Book of Life) for a good year. Tzom Gedalyah Tzom Gedalyah (Fast of Gedalyah) is observed on the third day of Tishrey. It is a dawn-to-dusk fast to commemorate the assassination of Gedalyah Ben Achikam, the last Jewish Governor of Israel before the Jews were driven into exile by the Babylonians in the sixth century BCE. Aseret Yemey Teshuvah Aseret Yemey Teshuvah (Ten Days of Teshuvah) are observed between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During these ten days we focus on teshuvah (literally ‘turning’—turning away from our negative actions and toward our best selves), tefillah (prayer), and tzedakah (acts of justice/charity). Yom Kippur Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is observed on the tenth day of Tishrey, as the moon swells. Through the process of teshuvah, Yom Kippur is meant to bring Jews closer to God, to other people, and to being the best people we can be. Yom Kippur Customs Fasting from food and drink, as well as the other abstentions observed on this day (not anointing ourselves, not wearing leather, not having sexual relations), is meant to guide our thoughts away from our physical needs and help focus our minds on spiritual growth and teshuvah. Tradition urges us to be reminded by the fast of those who lack basic sustenance. Many communities donate the amount of money they would have spent to feed themselves on Yom Kippur to organizations that feed the hungry. (Please note that pregnant women, the infirm, children under the age of twelve or thirteen, and anyone who might be harmed by doing so, are prohibited from fasting.) © 2001-2012 Moving Traditions. All rights reserved. © 2001-2012 Moving Traditions. 38 Tishrey Refraining from wearing leather is meant to guide us away from materialism, because leather is considered a sign of luxury. Sukkot Sukkot (Booths) begins on the full moon on the 15th of Tishrey and continues through the 21st of Tishrey. The holiday commemorates both the temporary dwellings (sukkot) of the Jews during their forty years of wandering in the desert and the later pilgrimage festival, during which portions of the harvest were brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. Sukkot comes just five days after Yom Kippur. Only after we have accomplished the challenging spiritual work of Yom Kippur, can we be truly joyous on Sukkot. Just as we celebrate the fall harvest, we can celebrate the fruits of our spiritual labor. In fact, Sukkot is called Zeman Simh.ateynu (Season of our Rejoicing). Sukkot commemorates how protective clouds surrounded the Jewish people during the forty years of wandering in the desert. It also commemorates how the Jews lived in temporary dwellings (sukkot) during that same time. Sukkot Customs By building a Sukkah, we commemorate the ancient desert booths (temporary dwelling places). Many have the custom of eating all of their meals during Sukkot in their sukkah, and some say daily prayers and sleep there as well. Marking the harvest festival, it is customary to decorate the sukkah festively with greens, fruits, and vegetables of the season. Waving a Lulav and Etrog We use four symbolic plant species for special rituals to invoke God’s salvation during Sukkot. The etrog, a bitter citus fruit, is held together with a lulav, fronds of palm, willow and myrtle branches, and is waved in six directions (north, south, east, west, up, and down) during the recitation of Hallel (psalms of praise).