Rosh Chodesh

The Jewish calendar, unlike the secular calendar, is arranged according to the phases of the moon. Many Jewish festivals fall on the full moon.

Rosh Chodesh (literally, “head of the month” or “head of the moon”), the first of every Hebrew month, always falls on the new moon. In biblical times, Rosh Chodesh was a festival marked by celebratory sacrifice and feasting; in rabbinic times, bonfires were lit on the mountains to announce the arrival of the new moon. Today Beth Ami’s Rosh Chodesh women’s group continues to celebrate this semi-holiday for all traditional Jews.

In Jewish lore and mysticism, as in other cultures, the moon has been a symbol for feminine principles. Rosh Chodesh, the new moon, has special meaning for Jewish women, and thus we gather at the beginning of each new Jewish month to explore our spiritual selves, make connections with one another, take note of and recognize our beliefs, feelings and attitudes through the means of Jewish texts, themes, and rituals.

We meet on the eve of Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the new cycle of the moon. This activity is free and open to all Jewish women, regardless of affiliation. Please contact our office to get on our email list for Rosh Chodesh announcements.

Rosh Chodesh Gatherings 5782
All Jewish women are welcome, regardless of affiliation (or not)
Sunday, September 26, 12 noon, lunch in the sukkah
Thursday, October 7, 7pm, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan
Friday, November 5, Moon Mavens lead services for Rosh Chodesh Kislev
Thursday, December 2, 7pm, Rosh Chodesh Tevet celebrate Chanukah with 5 candles, dessert, childhood memories of Chanukah
Monday, January 3, 7pm, celebrate Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat
(Possible Tu BiShvat Seder on Sunday, January 16, 11am)
Wednesday, February 2, 7pm, Gail Weiner will lead a discussion about relationships/connections between people to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Adar I
Thursday, March 3, 7pm, celebrate Rosh Chodesh Adar II by discussing Vashti and Esther as role models
Sunday, April 3, 11am potluck brunch, celebrate Rosh Chodesh Nisan by sharing Passover memories and determining what elements a women’s Seder should have
Sunday, May 1, 1pm, join us at the Holocaust Memorial Wall at Santa Rosa’s Memorial Park for a Yom Hashoah commemoration on Rosh Chodesh Iyyar
Wednesday, June 1, 7pm, Ice Cream Social before Shavuot
Wednesday, June 29, 7pm, gather on the Beth Ami patio to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Tammuz
Friday, July 29, sponsor the Oneg for Rosh Chodesh Av
Sunday, August 28, 11am potluck brunch, celebrate Rosh Chodesh Elul by sharing a part of yourself