[HANASHIR:10241] RE: Rosh Chodesh song & info

[Meris <meris...>]

Here's one for you listees!   I attended a debbie friedman concert today in
Albany, NY; in fact my middle school kids sang Oseh Shalom with her which
was pretty cool!  Anyway, towards the end of the concert she said, "I know
someone out there has requested the Thanksgiving Song..... so..... here it
is."  And she went on to teach it.    I've never heard this before and was
laughing out loud!   Did she write that?   Where did it come from?   What a
hoot.
Meris
meris (at) nycap(dot)rr(dot)com

  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
shamash(dot)org]On
Behalf Of Jaugshir (at) aol(dot)com
  Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2001 3:23 PM
  To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
  Subject: [HANASHIR:10235] Rosh Chodesh song & info


  Please excuse me for being so late in responding.  I'm finally catching up
on some old e-mail.  There were some inquiries about Rosh Chodesh songs and
info about the origin of the holiday.  Here is what I have to offer . . .

  First the music . . .

  Penina Adelman and Suri Kreiger have a cassette called Chodesh Chodesh
B'Shir, A Song A Month.  It was kind of hard to find.  I think I did a
google search for Penina Adelman and finally got her e-mail address.  I did
see a copy on the shelf at Roshenblum's Bookstore in Chicago about a month
ago.  The introductory song lists all of the months to a very sing songy
tune, followed by some lai lai lai's.  Easy to pick up and a good reinforcer
of the month names and sequence.

  Background on the holiday of Rosh Chodesh . . .

  Here is a paragraph from the Introduction of the Rosh Chodesh Guide by
Lenore Bohm.  It is published by Women of Reform Judiasm and can be ordered
by calling 212-650-4050.  I highly recommend this book as a starter manual
for anyone thinking of starting a Rosh Chodesh celebration group.  Very easy
format to work with.

  "Rosh Chodesh is mentioned in the Book of Exodus 12:2, in the Book of
Numbers 10:10 and 28:11-15, and in Psalm 81:4-5.  Additional references
include Amos 8:5, and 1 Samuel 20:18.  These accounts note the festive
elements of the day, including the sounding of the shofar and the offering
of sacrifices.  In the Talmud, a clear association is drawn between women
and the New Moon -- they are instructed not to work on the day of the New
Moon as a reward for not contributing their jewelry towards building the
Golden Calf.  The 11th century French commentator Rashi specifies no sewing,
spinning or weaving on Rosh Chodesh.  Other traditional texts have added
abstention from doing laundry as part of women's avoidance of work on this
one day a month."

  Penina Adelman also has a book called "Miriam's Well" which also includes
and introduction to Rosh Chodesh as well as a celebration for each month.
This book is also hard to find.  I got it through Amazon.com where they will
find used copies of books no longer in print.

  I started the Rosh Chodesh celebrations at Congregation Solel almost two
years ago with the encouragement of some people on this list.  If anyone out
there is interested in talking further I would be happy to share with you
and encourage you.

  And . . . If you know of any congregations in the Chicago area that need a
substitute cantorial soloist from time to time, I'm available.

  --Judith Golden
  Congregation Solel
  Highland Park, IL  60035
  (847) 831-0611