ROSH Chodesh As seen by Masorti women ROSH Chodesh As seen by Masorti women CRÉDITS Project coordination: Rabina Graciela de Grynberg Lic. Ariel Blufstein Revision: Lic. Liliana Gurevich Design DG Andrea Oszlak Rosh Jodesh : desde una perspectiva femenina masorti / - 1a ed adaptada. - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires : SAB Libros, 2017. 48 p. ; 20 x 20 cm. ISBN 978-987-29951-5-7 1. Judaísmo. 2. Historia. I. Chemen, Silvina II. Blufstein, Ariel, comp. CDD 296.09 Message from the President | 05 Words from the Director | 07 By way of introduction | 09 MONTH OF TISHREI | 11 Our constant race through life 01 by Rabbi Diana Villa MONTH OF CHESHVAN | 15 Water and the flow of time 02 by Rabbi Marcela Guralnik MONTH OF KISLEV | 19 What is the meaning of light, oil and fire? 03 by Rabbi Claudia Kreiman MONTH OF TEVET | 23 Between light and darkness; between silence 04 and celebration by Rabbi Silvina Chemen MONTH OF SHEVAT | 33 ROSH TubiShvat: woman and nature from a feministic 05 Jewish perspective by Rabbi Daniela Szuster Chodesh MONTH OF ADAR | 39 About spins and spirals 06 by Rabbi Karina Finkielsztein MONTH OF NISAN |43 Longing for redemption INDEX 07 by Rabbi Judy Nowominski MONTH OF IYAR |47 The month of redemption 08 by Rabbi Graciela de Grynberg MONTH OF SIVAN | 51 Naomi and Ruth: a narrative by women 09 by Rabbi Sandra Kochmann MONTH OF TAMMUZ | 55 Hemispheres 10 by Rabbi Fernanda Tomchinsky-Galanternik MONTH OF AV | 59 The pain of the people 11 by Rabbi Lic. Sarina Vitas MONTH OF ELUL | 63 A Word like your “pearl of wisdom” 12 by Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz | 3 Message from the President by Gillian Caplin President of Masorti Olami New North London Synagogue, United Kingdom I would like to thank all the women Rabbis who have contributed to this collection of essays – and to say how honoured I feel to be asked to introduce such a special publication. It is not easy, even in 2017, for women to take on a leadership role and in some cases it is not obvious or sometimes even accepted. However, I am proud to be part of the Masorti Movement where Jewish women are encouraged to fulfil their potential in all fields and being a Rabbi or Lay Leaders is fully respected. The importance of creating role models for women of all generations is an important task for us all. The connection between Rosh Chodesh and women dates back to the times of the Bible. According to a tradition recorded in the Midrashic work Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, the women refused to participate in the sin of the Golden Calf and they were rewarded with Rosh Chodesh. In more recent times there are many commentaries which link the waxing and waning of the moon with the comforting predictability that generations of women have experienced throughout the cycle of their lives. “The phases of the | 05 ROSH CHODESH moon validate and sanctify women at all ages of their spiritual, emotional and physical lives”. In my life-time I have seen the creation of formal Rosh Chodesh groups across the whole spectrum of women's involvement in Jewish life. These groups have provided the impetus to create unique ways to explore Jewish women's issues, to celebrate prayer and women's roles and contribution to the wider world. Masorti Judaism is based on a strong faith - in the women who, in every situation remain steadfast to this faith and pass it on to their children – the future generations. Perhaps this explains the special connection to Rosh Chodesh – the celebration of perpetuity ensuring continuity and survival and renewal. 06 | Rosh chodesh, its link to women and capacity for renewal by Rabbi Mauricio Balter Executive Director, MasortíOlami and MercazOlami Rosh Chodesh was traditionally linked to women. Some texts « consider it a women's holiday. Even the Halacha (Jewish law) Woman renews herself proposes that women should refrain from working on Rosh with every monthly Chodesh (ShulchanAruch, Orach Chaim 117). Also Talmud Yerushalmi comments on the custom of women not working on cycle and desires to Rosh Chodesh. And different communities around the world lovingly unite to her highlight the difference of the day with special customs. The most husband as if she remarkable is the one established by Georgian Jews and some started afresh as a new African and Yemenite communities: women light candles the evening before Rosh Chodesh (as on holidays and Shabbat). bride, similarly to the Ashkenazi women also celebrate the day with a festive meal and reborn moon, seen add ShirHamaalot (Psalm 126) to the blessing on food anew every month… (BirkatHamazon). In Eretz Israel neither hair nor nails are cut on Therefore Rosh Chodesh Rosh Chodesh. Kurdish women used to bake a type of thin bread that could be kept for several weeks. Libyan women would visit was significantly friends on Rosh Chodesh and celebrate. To this day some women assigned to women change their routine and do different things to mark the beginning » of the month. Various explanations are provided on the link between women | 07 ROSH CHODESH and Rosh Chodesh in different ancient texts. I particularly like the one of Rabbi Yitzhak from Vienna in his Halacha book ”Or Zarua” (Rosh Chodesh laws 154) .ã”ðú 'éñ ùãåç ùàø úåëìä ,á”ëøú øåîèàéæ ”òåøæ øåà” àðéåî ÷çöé éáø áúåë íåéáë åéìò äáéáç àéäå äìòáì úøæåçå úìáåèå úùãçúî äùéàä ùãåçå ùãåç ìëáù êì òãú” íåé ùãåç ùàø éååä êëìå ...äúåàøì ïéåàúî ìëäå ùãåç ùàø ìëá úùãçúî äðáìäù íùë .äôåçä ”.íéùð ìù áåè “Woman renews herself with every monthly cycle and desires to lovingly unite to her husband as if she started afresh as a new bride, similarly to the reborn moon, seen anew every month… Therefore Rosh Chodesh was significantly assigned to women”. Rabbi Yitzhak from Vienna speaks here of woman and renewal; I daresay that at present this refers to her biological cycle which results directly in her creativity. There is no doubt that women's role in society has changed, from professional to creative and religious spheres, and in such respect we should mention the Masorti Movement which in its absolute majority is an egalitarian movement whose creative force is contributed by women in their roles of lay leaders and women Rabbis and professionals. Just as in the past communities introduced customs to mark Rosh Chodesh, new customs and traditions are being created nowadays. In Israel, Rosh Chodesh is automatically associated to “Women of the Wall” who fight for the right of women to pray, lay tefillin and read the Torah by the Western Wall; thus hundreds of people join them by the Kotel to pray every Rosh Chodesh. I feel proud to belong to a movement blessed with the creative capacity and leadership of its women Rabbis; to them my thanks and gratitude for their valuable contribution to this book. With the Bracha of "Chodesh Tov"--a good month, it is my wish that we may all renew ourselves constantly in the study of Torah. 08 | By way of introduction Rosh chodesh. As seen by Masorti women. “There is a time for everything, « and a season for every activity ”G'd said to Moses… in under the heavens” the land of Egypt… Eclesiastes 3:1 “This month shall be for you the beginning of Every new project requires prior thoughts and dreams, and work months. It shall be the to make it come true. first month of the year for you.“(Exodus 12:1-2” This book is the materialization of a project that started in 2012 and will end today. (Éxodo 12:1-2) Rosh Chodesh, ùãåç ùàø, the head or beginning of the month is » the name given to the first day of each month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the new moon. It was the first commandment given by G'd to the Jews as a people. While still in Egypt, the Jewish people were told that in the month of Nisan they would leave that country. Nisan would be the first month, followed by the others. | 09 ROSH CHODESH “G'd said to Moses… in the land of Egypt… “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.“(Exodus 12:1-2). Women consider Rosh Chodesh a holiday, a reward for not having been part of the sin of the Golden Calf. This is why the book was written by women for everybody. 12 months, 12 women Rabbis who wrote from the bottom of their hearts, 12 Latin American women who preach the values of the Masorti movement throughout the world. We hope you will enjoy its every word and idea. Rabbi Graciela de Grynberg Lic Ariel Blufstein Project Coordinator Project Coordinator 10 | 01 TISHREI ROSH Chodesh As seen by Masorti women Our constant race through life by Rabbi Diana Villa Israel The month of Tishrei is fraught with festivities, more than any other « in the Jewish calendar. The first one is Rosh Hashana –two days of Both ends of the Shofar the New Year- followed by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The are open, therefore month starts with AseretYemei Teshuva –the ten days of repentance- devoted especially to reflect about our actions during what goes in on one the year that has just ended and consider changes for the next. side comes out at the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are also known as Yamim Noraim other; so, even if –the Days of Awe- when according to tradition the fate of each of someone accuses us, us for the new year is decided.