Tishrei 5784    תשרי

Every year at Tishrei we celebrate a New Year with hope and renewed commitment to making our world a better place – whether our sphere of influence is at home in close relationships, in our communities, or in the world.  In the natural world, both in the Great Lakes and the Middle East, it is the end of summer, the end of the growing season, and we harvest the fruits of the summer’s labor, before settling down for the winter and the darkness that will come.  By the end of the month of Tishrei, we are aware of the shortening of days, and the trees are losing their leaves in earnest.  Where did the time go?

Rosh Hashana and the New Year celebrate renewal of both our lives’ commitments, and the creation of the world, which we can understand as created anew, year after year.  Our source Jill Hammer talks about the cycle of time, and the role the moon plays in helping us to mark the passing of seasons.  She quotes Rabbi Yochanan in saying, “..why was the moon created? For seasons, so that we might renew by her countings the new moons and the years.”  At Rosh Hashanah, she notes, “we reflect on our past and our future”, and so “honor time.”[1]  May we all experience the coming month of holidays and celebrations of renewal – both of commitment and of the seasons – in joy, as we begin to count the New Moons of the year yet again. L’Shana Tovah, Happy New Year! — K. Miriam

Our next Rosh Chodesh walking meditation will honor the New Moon of Cheshvan, Monday, October 16, 7:30 am. Rain or shine!  Contact us for location.

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[1] Rabbi Jill Hammer, The Jewish Book of Days, p. 414. See Sources tab for full citation.