Rosh Hodesh

Rosh Chodesh, the monthly holiday marking the new moon, has traditionally been identified with women through midrash and folk belief. Stories circulated about the special right of Jewish women to observe this holiday in recognition of their noble behavior when the Golden Calf was erected and worshipped. (Excerpt from Miriam's Well by Penina V. Adelman)

Psalm 137 says, "As a reward (for the women's refusal to participate in the making of the Golden Calf), God gave the new moons as holidays to women, and in the future world too they will be rewarded for their firm faith in God, in that, like the new moons, they, too, may monthly be rejuvenated."

At Beth Israel, we mark Rosh Chodesh with special prayers and blessings, and a group of women gather for food and conversation on the Sunday closest to the first of every Hebrew month. For more than 25 years, our group met in each other's homes or at Beth Israel, bringing a potluck lunch, and sharing teachings based on the Torah, current holiday, or something of interest to women in our time. Every Beth Israel member (or wannabe-member) who is a woman above Bat Mitzvah age is welcome. RSVPs must be made to the hostess.