 |
| New Moon Phase (by Daniel Kmiec) |
Ou.org tells us that the Jewish calendar is based upon the reappearance of the moon each month. Its days
and months reflect the very heart of Judaism – as expressed through traditional and seasonal festivals. Rosh Chodosh also "symbolizes
renewal, the ability of the Jewish People to rise up from oblivion and restore itself to its past
greatness." When
the ancient Syrian-Greeks attempted to stifle this renewal by outlawing the observance of Rosh Chodosh, the
Jewish People "rose up in defense of the Torah and the Temple." Chanukah, "the festival of renewal," continues to commemorate their triumphant outcome.
Last month's Rosh
Chodosh Adar was recently observed at the Kotel by the Women of the Wall. According to their website mission statement, they "aim to change the status-quo that is currently preventing women from being able to pray freely at the Western Wall." They work to further this mission via "social
advocacy, education and empowerment."
Daniel Estrin of the Associated Press (AP) reports that these women conducted "certain rituals, such as wearing prayer shawls and skullcaps and singing out loud, practices reserved for men under strict Orthodox
interpretations of Judaism." Israeli police detained ten of them "because they acted against court-ordered regulations that bar women from wearing prayer shawls at the Western Wall…"
Women of the Wall have been "rising up" in this manner almost every Rosh Chodosh. They seek spiritual renewal via social justice, as did their revered ancestors.
Resources
http://www.ou.org/chagim/roshchodesh/
http://womenofthewall.org.il/about/mission-statement/
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=790174&affid=100055
No comments:
Post a Comment