Saturday, April 6, 2019. We celebrated Rosh Chodesh in two places this month, on the shores of Lake Erie at Geneva-on-the-Lake, at Kol HaLev’s Shabbaton – and once again at Horseshoe Lake, with many thanks to Luisa of Shaarey Tikvah for holding the space in our absence. After 11 years we have not missed a month, and she made it possible to keep up the tradition. And provided us with two beautiful photos!
Nisan is of course a time of newness and rebirth, with the coming of Passover and the long-awaited return of spring to the Great Lakes. Somehow this winter has seemed longer than many, and we are grateful for every tree bud, crocus and daffodil, and perennial blade appearing. Out at Lake Erie, we talked about Judaism as a nature religion, an indigenous religion, grounding us not just in ethics and knowledge of how we should live, but in the cycles of moon, agriculture, plants and seasons.
Funny how cycles work – we walk around and around our home lake, or back and forth along Erie’s rocky edge, always retracing the same steps – and yet every loop is different, in time, space and circumstances. The moon renews itself – as we change in self, age and in relationships, and have the freeing opportunity, year after year, to begin anew. In ten days, once again we will join together at the seder table and recite the same words and stories, sing the same songs. May we all find newness in remembering and renewing our exodus from a constricted place, and journey into freedom. — Kirby
Rosh Chodesh Cleveland 