A life of goodness and blessing,
A life of achievement and strength of body,
A life of decency and dignity, free from shame and full of honor,
A life filled with Torah and love for You.
FROM THE BLESSINGS ANNOUNCING THE NEW MOON
Jews take time very seriously. The Torah begins with the words “In the beginning,” while the Talmud starts with the question, “From what time may one recite the eveningShema?” The idea of sanctified time is one of the foundations of Jewish faith and practice.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that the first commandment given to the Jews as a nation was to create a calendar based on the cycle of the moon:
"And G‑d said to Moses… in the land of Egypt… This month is for you, the head of the months. First it is for you among the months of the year."(Exodus 12:1-2).
The Torah commands us to sanctify each month at its start, and Rosh Chodesh, literally the “head of the month,” is celebrated as a minor holiday. Special prayers are added to the daily service; we wish each other “chodesh tov,” a good month.
The Jewish month begins when the new moon first appears, a tiny sliver in the night sky. Indeed, the word “chodesh” comes from the root chadash, which means new. The moon’s cycle of waxing and waning is a powerful symbol of renewal, reminding us that every diminution creates the possibility of rebirth. Rosh Chodesh offers us the opportunity to begin anew, not just once a year, but once a month.
Rosh Chodesh, the head of the month, plays a big role in the Jewish calendar, where the lunar cycle is front and center. Learn how the Jewish calendar works. View the following video from Cabad.org to learn more.
Visit Jewish.TV for more Jewish videos.
Some of the local Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth Messianic groups will be celebrating Rosh Chodesh throughout the year. Below are links to RSVP and get info on the celebration for the upcoming 6th month of Elul.
Tuesday, August 6 (Av 30) 6:30pm – Rosh Chodesh Eve
Potluck, Praise and Worship, Overview of Rosh Chodesh, 6th Month
Location: At Pavilion at Sharon Stellmach’s 2800 Saville Garden Way Virginia Beach, VA 23453
Rosh Chodesh EVE* – Potluck & Fellowship
Tuesday, August 6, 6:30 p.m.
Please RSVP by August 1
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0545ABAC2EA46-rosh
Wednesday, August 7 (Elul 1) 6:30pm– Rosh Chodesh
Want to go deeper? Study the Book of Haggai (the Word of the Lord came to Haggai on the first day of the 6th Month)
Location: Regent University Library – 2nd floor – Robertson Room
Contact Glenda Schroedel if you are interested in this Bible Study (ibaberean@gmail.com)
Rosh Chodesh Bible Study*
Wednesday, August 7 (Elul 1) 6:30 p.m.
Please RSVP by August 1
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0545ABAC2EA46-rosh1
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