Rosh Hodesh Cheshvan

Rosh Chodesh, (Hebrew: ראש חודש‎) is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar. It is marked by the appearance of the New Moon.

In ancient times, Rosh Chodesh was a significant festival day. During those times the new months were determined by observation. Each month began when the first sliver of moon was seen by two separate. The Sanhedrin (an assembly of twenty-three judges) would then interrogate them to make sure they were not mistaken, asking for information regarding the moon’s time of appearance, position in the sky, and directionality.


Above: Modern Moon Chai Necklace by PhonyArt

Where in the sky did the moon appear? Which direction was it pointing? If two reliable eyewitnesses confirmed the new moon had appeared, and described it consistently, the Sanhedrin would declare the new month and send out messengers to tell people when the month began.

 
Above: Face of the Moon Hair Barrette by ClayBeadsandMore

Back then Rosh Chodesh was an important holiday. The entire Jewish calendar was dependent on the declaration of the new moon. Without them there was no way of knowing the exact times holidays were supposed to occur. However, in recent times the significance of this festival has substantially diminished.


Above: Baby Moon Earrings by markaplan

In spite of its diminished importance within the Jewish community, other than its being announced in synagogues the Shabbat before its occurrence with a prayer for the New Moon being added to that week’s liturgy, Rosh Chodesh is now looked upon as a special holiday for women. There are several reasons.

First, according to legend, Rosh Chodesh was a “reward” holiday for women because they refused to give up their jewelry for the infamous Golden Calf during the Exodus. This righteousness gave women the privilege of not having to work on Rosh Chodesh.

Secondly is the cyclical relationship between the moon and a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Third, the status of the moon has often been compared to the status of women. The Talmud recounts a legend that the moon and the sun were originally of equal size and brightness, but the moon asked how two could rule equally; G-d responded by making the moon smaller. In ancient texts, woman likewise has a lesser status and is subservient to man.

Today you can find many female-centered Rosh Chodesh “celebrations” through women’s groups that meet over the course of this time. Many of these groups focus on the Shekinah, or feminine aspect of G-d.
Activities vary according to each group. But most explore spirituality, education, health issues, and/or ritual, and might include activities such as drumming, dance, music, chanting, and/or cooking.

This upcoming Rosh Chodesh begins the new month of Cheshvan at sundown on Friday, October 8, 2010.


Above: Night and Day – Watercolor Print by mishmishmarket

written by April Grunspan

This article is a repost with the dates changed.

Technorati Tags: etsychai,etsy,handmade,crafts,art,earrings,necklace,rosh chodesh,jewish,judaica

New Moon, the sequel

Clicking on pictures in the article will take you to the respective EtsyChai shops.
Post submitted by Linda B., Jewelry Designer

This Shabbat, I will have the privilege of announcing the new month of Cheshvan, on Sun. Oct 18 and Mon. Oct. 19. with a special prayer in our Sim Shalom siddur. I try to do it the way our Hazzan chanted it so beautifully. Our shul is small so we do not have a Women’s Rosh Hodesh Group. Rosh Hodesh gives us the time to say special prayers. Reciting prayers is always a mitzvah.

Face of the Moon

I looked online and found some details about the month of Cheshvan*:

Cheshvan           Mazal/Constellation:  Scorpion

Significance of the Month:
Cheshvan, the eighth month of the Jewish calendar, is often referred to as Mar Cheshvan ("Bitter Cheshvan") because it has no holidays. In Israel the rainy season, which marks the onset of winter, begins in Cheshvan.
Holidays
There are no holidays in Cheshvan. However, two tragic events occurred during this month. Kristalnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, and the beginning of the Holocaust, was on 15 Cheshvan 5699 (1938). In 5756 (1995), Yitzhak Rabin, the Prime Minister of Israel, was assassinated on 12 Cheshvan.
Women to Celebrate
The Matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah - The weekly Torah readings during the month of Cheshvan focus on the stories of our Matriarchs and Patriarchs.

Only in a Pink Moon

Famous Women's Yahrzeits
Rachel our Matriarch - 11 Cheshvan. The favorite wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel is buried in the Tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem.
Hannah Senesh - 20 Cheshvan 5705 (November 6, 1944). A paratrooper in the British Army, Hannah helped to organize Partisan efforts in Yugoslavia and Hungary. She was captured by the Nazis who tortured and killed her. Hannah wrote poetry that is often read and sung in Holocaust memorial services.
Rachel Yanait Ben-Tzvi - 24 Cheshvan 5740 (November 14, 1979). Rachel Yanait Ben Tzvi immigrated to what was then Turkish Palestine as a young pioneer in 1908. She became one of the leading activists in the Zionist movement and the Haganah (the pre-state, Jewish military organization) and married Yitzhak Ben Tzvi, who was later elected second president of Israel.

Moon and Stars

Text Studies
Hannah and Prayer - In this month of celebrating the matriarch, learn about another Biblical woman who has had a profound influence on us. Our way of prayer is modeled after Hannah, Samuel the Prophet's mother.

Night and Day

* http://www.hillel.org/jewish/rituals/roshchodesh/chesvan.htm

Do you keep monthly traditions?

New Moon

No, EtsyChai hasn’t started blogging about popular vampire literature.  (Being a vampire wouldn’t be kosher…)  Instead, here’s a short post about Rosh Chodesh/ראש חודש‎, the Head or Beginning of the Month because the Jewish calendar is based on lunar cycles.  It’s “the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the New Moon.”  (Thanks Wikipedia.) 

This month’s new moon is Sunday, October 18 and Monday, October 19.  There are many traditional observances about this monthly, minor holiday, as well as many modern ones.  Some communities celebrate Rosh Chodesh as an exclusively women’s holiday, abstaining from work, gathering in Rosh Chodesh groups, Torah study, and/or discussing women’s issues.  How do you/your community celebrate this monthly holiday?

Here at the EtsyChai Street Team blog, we’ll celebrate with some of our member’s beautiful items:

Wrap your neck in moonlight!

Baby Moon Earrings

Modern Moon Chai Necklace

Sunday night starts the month of Cheshvan, come back then (or subscribe for updates) for part II of this blog post.