Rosh Chodesh 101
The Epic History Behind Jewish Women Honoring the Moon
Long before our modern calendars and smartphones, there have been powerful Jewish rituals of marking time — the days, weeks, months, years, and each moment of our lives.
Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah are two of the best-known rituals, but we at At The Well have a special love for a holiday that arrives with every new moon: Rosh Chodesh!
This monthly ritual (Rosh Chodesh literally translates to “head of the month”) has been critical to the Jewish people and holds a special resonance for women. And isn’t it beautiful that our months start by paying attention to the sky?
For the past few hundred years, this holiday has been one of Judaism’s best-kept secrets — so we’re here to share the background you need to begin a monthly Rosh Chodesh practice of your own.
The Origins of Rosh Chodesh
The marking of time has been important for the Jewish people since the moment of leaving slavery in Egypt. The very first commandment G-d gave in the Book of Exodus, while the Jews wandered through the desert from slavery to the promised land, was for the Jewish people to mark each new moon. From this, we learn that the meaning of freedom is intertwined with agency over our own time. Each new month is another reminder of this freedom.
In biblical days, there were no written calendars to consult. Instead, two designated New Moon-seekers would climb to the top of a hill and wait for a clear sky, since Rosh Chodesh occurs when there is the first sliver of the moon after a completely dark sky.
When they were absolutely sure that there was a sliver of light, they’d report their findings back to the Great Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish court.
Then, someone would climb to the top of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (a very steep climb!) with a long pole of cedar, reeds, and olive. They’d set the pole on fire until someone on another hilltop saw them, then that person would light a fire until they saw a third person on the hill over, and this would go on until the message reached the edges of Babylonia. Talk about the illuminating power of Rosh Chodesh!
How Did Rosh Chodesh Become a Holiday for Women?
The entire Jewish people received the teaching to honor Rosh Chodesh. But over time, it became especially associated as a time for women.
One explanation, offered by a Medieval rabbi, teaches that when all the men decided to create the Golden Calf, the women refused to relinquish their jewelry and participate. Their bravery and faith in G-d resulted in the reward of a special holiday to rest, reflect, and reset every month. (So this holiday is also a commemoration of the power of resisting the patriarchy!)
Rosh Chodesh offers us a time every month to honor the Shechinah, the feminine mystical aspect of the Divine.
The waxing and waning of the moon also resembles the menstrual cycle. For menstruators, Rosh Chodesh can be a way to connect more deeply with our bodies and the internal “clock” of our fertility cycle. Whether or not you menstruate, committing to Rosh Chodesh rituals can offer a modern Jewish well-being practice rooted in ancient tradition and a way to honor our brave female ancestors.
What Can I Do to Celebrate Rosh Chodesh?
Since Rosh Chodesh occurs at the beginning of a month, it’s a wonderful time to set intentions for the upcoming month. One way you can set intentions on Rosh Chodesh is with a Well Circle.
A Well Circle is a group (ideally 6-12 people) who commit to meeting monthly to create a space of belonging and share spiritual experiences. Through At The Well, women and nonbinary folks all over the world host monthly, self-sustaining Well Circles, facilitating conversations and activities for spiritual connection and growth. These circles can be transformative!
The first step to starting a Well Circle is finding a co-creator, or Hevruta. This person can help you craft how you want your Circle to function and help you decide who to invite. If you both invite two friends, you’ll have your six-person Circle in no time! Maybe for the first few months, you just meet with your Hevruta until you craft your invitation and invite new people in.
What Can You and Your Well Circle Do Together?
There are so many options for creative, connected, and embodied activities. For each Hebrew month, At The Well releases a new Moon Manual with resources, activities, and articles relating to the themes and holidays of each month. For example, the month of Kislev, when Hanukkah takes place, is the month of dreams and miracles. Rosh Chodesh would ask us: How might we connect with dreams and miracles during the month of Kislev?
These Moon Manuals can be read on your own, with your Hevruta, or in a Well Circle. Different contributors add material each month so you will be sure to learn something new!
The Power of Gathering
Since women were traditionally the guardians of oral storytelling, and not able to write their stories or opinions down, Rosh Chodesh became a minor holiday without written records, marked just by a specific prayer that is said in synagogue.
What we do know, however, is that women have been coming together to storytell, share information about their lives and bodies, and learn about Jewish wisdom for a very, very long time.
Nowadays, Rosh Chodesh offers a powerful antidote to our disconnection from our bodies, communities, and spiritual practices.
Research shows that participation in Well Circles leads to strong relationships and fosters deep learning. People in Well Circles report that they are making Jewish wisdom and community personally meaningful and feel empowered to learn and innovate. Folks also describe how their time in a Well Circle motivated them to self-reflect, practice mindfulness, and express themselves more openly. These few hours together each month have powerful ripple effects!
Rosh Chodesh doesn’t only deepen our relationship with ourselves; the holiday also transforms the way we connect with others and engage with our lives. When you meet with people regularly and witness the cycles of your life, you are able to be known and belong deeply with others.
Gathering in community has always been potent medicine in the Jewish tradition — and we hope you will find joy in all the possibilities Rosh Chodesh holds for you!
Need resources and inspiration for your Well Circle gathering?
Click here for instant access to our monthly Moon Manuals.
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