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March 9, 2001/Adar 14, 5761, Vol. 53, No.23
Starting anewWomen celebrate cyclical rebirth of moon, themselves
TAMI BICKLEY
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 Rosh Chodesh is a time many Jewish women join to learn and have fun together. From left are Ruth Czopp, Malka Toren and Dina Margalit. The women socialize at Onnie Benchetrit's home during a Rosh Chodesh gathering. Photo by Tami Bickley |
The waxing-and-waning pattern guides many Jewish women through their lives, physically and spiritually.
Rosh Chodesh, literally "head of the month" and figuratively "new moon," normally falls on the first day of each of the 12 months of the Jewish calendar, except for the first autumn month of Tishrei, which coincides with Rosh Hashana, the New Year.
According to the book "Moonbeams, A Hadassah Rosh Chodesh Guide" by Leora Tanenbaum, Claudia Chernov and Hadassah Tropper (Jewish Lights Publishing, $20 softcover), God initially commanded Jews to observe the new moon as they were preparing to escape enslavement in Egypt. God said that as the moon renews itself by nature, Jews, too, should renew themselves. God next asked the Jews to count the months so they would always keep in mind how long they had been free.
The holiday originally was intended as "a special day for all Jewish men," says Chana Lew, program coordinator for Chabad of the West Valley and wife of Rabbi Sholom Lew. Legend holds that it subsequently was "given to women ... as a reward for their faith," explains Lew, after the women refused to hand over their jewelry to create the golden calf the men worshipped at Sinai.
History demonstrates that "women have the same thread running through them. They all have had that extra strong faith in God," Lew notes.
Women celebrate not only the new month and new moon, but also a new start, a renewal, during Rosh Chodesh.
"Each month is a new beginning, when I can reflect and grow and learn something new spiritually," says Jodi Geiger, a member of Chabad of Scottsdale and coordinator of a Rosh Chodesh women's group that meets monthly.
Lew explains that many people consider the day or so preceding Rosh Chodesh to be a "mini Yom Kippur" - a time to reflect on the past month and concentrate on starting over in the month to come.
A number of women also believe that Rosh Chodesh coincides with women's natural bodily cycles, as the menstrual cycle is comparable to that of the moon. Girls typically begin celebrating the holiday when they reach adolescence or become bat mitzvah - around the age they begin to menstruate.
"When their bodies start to reach the point of having cycles, they can understand the significance of the holiday more," notes Lew.
Men and women alike recite special prayers in synagogue on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh. These include blessings over the coming month and additional words in the Amida (the central prayer rubric of the worship service).
When Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbat, the Sabbath is considered "even more special," says Lew.
The Torah is read on Shabbat, Monday and Thursday, and when Rosh Chodesh falls on another day of the week, a Torah portion is recited on that day too, she says.
Aside from reciting prayers to help sanctify Rosh Chodesh, it is up to the woman herself to choose how to celebrate the holiday, say Jewish leaders. There are no laws regarding what a woman should or should not do during that time.
But there are customs. For example, a woman may take a day-long rest from menial duties such as doing laundry or sewing, says Dina Levertov, who runs the Hebrew school at Chabad of Scottsdale and is married to Rabbi Yossi Levertov. Others may take a break from cooking and instead enjoy a dinner out with their husbands or entire families. Levertov teaches her three young daughters that the holiday is special for females by giving them treats, she says.
In the past decade, more and more women have formed Rosh Chodesh groups that meet monthly - although not always on Rosh Chodesh. Participants may discuss the significance of the coming month as it relates to Judaism, Jewish women in the Bible and contemporary issues women face. The meetings may further serve as a social gathering, complete with a planned enjoyable activity.
Such groups have sprung up around the country perhaps because "people want to do something Jewish and identify as women," Lew speculates. "Rosh Chodesh has a special connection with women, and it's a way to cover both bases of being a woman and being Jewish. Also, it seems a lot of people are going back to the traditions, and this is one indication that people want to get more involved (in Judaism)."
In the Valley within the past year, at least three Rosh Chodesh groups have formed. The Hadassah chapter in Scottsdale, lead by Marilyn Brooks, held its first Rosh Chodesh meeting for Hadassah members in October.
Brooks decided to create the group after reading "Moonbeams," distributed by Hadassah's national Jewish Education Department. The 202-page guide explains the history and significance of Rosh Chodesh and includes a chapter for each month in the Hebrew calendar, plus biblical topics that relate to the months, and how those topics pertain to modern life.
Brooks explains that the group, which meets at Hadassah's Scottsdale office, does not socialize or engage in amusing activities. Rather, the women discuss such subjects as medical ethics, history and observance, self-hatred and feminist heritage and modesty.
"We start with history and biblical roots, and then we talk about contemporary problems. Nearly all the women in the group have a very good Jewish background, and we can discuss (issues) from various points of view," says Brooks.
In contrast, Chabad of Scottsdale's Rosh Chodesh meetings, led by Geiger at various participants' homes, are more or less social gatherings that incorporate a monthly theme or topic and include an enjoyable activity or learning segment. The meetings are open to all women, regardless of their level of observance or affiliation within the Jewish community.
At a Feb. 28 meeting, held a week before Purim, some 25 women met at the home of Onnie Benchetrit in Scottsdale to listen to her deliver a Dvar Torah (interpretation) about Queen Esther and the story of the Purim holiday.
Afterward, Amy Khedouri demonstrated to the group the art of Japanese flower arranging. Khedouri is a specialist in Japanese flower-arranging and teaches a flower-arranging class at Scottsdale Community College.
Next month, the group plans to hold a Passover painting event.
The women who attend the meetings say such activities bring them closer together, teach them new skills and help them to relax on a day meant for women to enjoy as they wish.
"It gives us a chance to just be together as Jewish women," says Suzanne Feinberg, a member of Chabad of Scottsdale and a frequent participant in the meetings.
Similarly, Chabad of the West Valley holds Rosh Chodesh meetings - also open to all Jewish women regardless of level of observance or affiliation - that couple learning with fun, says Lew. Since beginning the group just two months ago, Lew has chosen a subject for each meeting.
"We will have a specific topic such as Queen Esther for Purim or Miriam for (Passover)," she says. "Most topics have to do with Jewish women, and finding something within the month that connects with Jewish women through the ages or contemporary Jewish women."
The group's first meeting focused on challah. It is a mitzvah for women to bake challah, Lew says. The women talked about the meaning of challah and then baked loaves together.
More recently, the women discussed Purim and arranged holiday gift baskets.
For younger women, Hillel at Arizona State University holds student-led Rosh Chodesh monthly meetings, open to all Hillel members, Jewish ASU students and those on Hillel's mailing list. Topics are chosen depending on what students find interesting, says Nanci Wilharber, Hillel program coordinator. The meetings "are educational, but are also fun, social events," she says.
Students have learned about Hanukkah while making Hanukkah candles; created seder plates for Passover; and baked hamantaschen for Purim.
Women who appreciate Rosh Chodesh say it is a time to be in awe of the cycle of the moon and the cyclical nature of their own physical and spiritual selves while reflecting on the strength of Jewish women throughout history.
A woman can say, "This is my special day," Lew says.