[HANASHIR:6937] Re: Women's Rosh Chodesh

[ItaSara <ItaSara...>]

A few years ago I helped to start a Rosh Chodesh Group. The group still meets 
today, although after we originally got started I chose myself not to 
continue, so I don’t know if the same format is followed today.
     We put together a small service: Opening song was Holy Place by Debbie 
Friedman. Then we had a welcoming/candelighting B’racha followed by 
shehecheyanu and then a lighting and naming ceremony. At this time the first 
woman lit a starter candle (tea light size) and lights her own candle; she 
sya her name and whose daughter and/or granddaughter she is in English and or 
Hebrew and maybe a little something about her hopes for the coming month. She 
takes her light and lights the next woman’s candle and floats her own candle 
in a large bowl of water. And it continues around the room until all candles 
are lit and floating.
    Then we had some readings that one of the group or the “leader of the 
month” would contribute. This was followed by a prayer of Thanksgiving and 
prayers for the new month.
    One of the members would then make a presentation...anything at all. Some 
brought in craft projects or cooking projects or presented a short program on 
their area of expertise or an upcoming holiday or something they had 
researchEd.
    We continued with a prayer for healing and renewal and Debbie Frieman’s 
song of healing. Then we left time for some discussion followed by a group 
blessing and closing song, ususally t’filat Haderech by Debbie Friedman 
and/or hine ma tov u ma nayim shevet achiot gam ya chad.
    Hope this helps you out.

    E. Lerner
    Rochester, Ny

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