About

Rosh Chodesh Cleveland is a small group of hardy men and women who have met on the first day of every lunar month for fifteen years. Rosh Chodesh (literally “head of the month”) is the Jewish acknowledgement of the arrival of the new moon, marked on the first day of each Hebrew lunar month. Traditional prayers are said in the synagogue, and in Cleveland we meet outdoors to recognize the natural and agricultural world, the cycle of the Jewish year, and its place in our lives. You are most welcome to join us!

We meet in the early morning and consider some aspects of the mystical, historical, liturgical, natural and/or agricultural cycles that influence our lives this month.  Then we walk in meditation, close with a blessing, and head off into our daily routines. This simple, short practice has grown on us, and we have found we are more aware of the cyclical nature of life, the seasons of the year, the phases of the moon, and the changing of our inner lives in response to it.  This blog is an attempt to share our reflections and photographs with a wider audience than our facebook friends. We hope that you enjoy the practice, and that it grows on you as well.

Meetings:  We meet, rain or snow or shine, on the first day of each Hebrew month (usually, check the sidebar for date), according to standard Hebrew calendars. In fifteen years we have not missed a month – even in 10 degree weather, the middle of a blizzard, and in pouring rain. We start on time, and try to finish within 45 minutes to an hour, shorter if the weather is not agreeable. Everyone is welcome  – contact us here if you would like more information.

History:  The Rosh Chodesh Walking Meditation group was originally a program of HaMakom, an independent Jewish organization in Cleveland, founded by Rabbi Simcha Zevit, to provide spiritual enrichment and community for those who seek “an inclusive, warm, and inviting gathering “place” for exploring Judaism as a spiritual path”.

Since about 2015, we have been continuing as an independent group whose members come from across the Jewish community.