[HANASHIR:10242] RE: Rosh Chodesh song & info

[Rabbi Richard Schachet <lvrabbi...>]

Hey-- Aren't YOU glad you're not a turkey???
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Meris 
  To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org 
  Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2001 7:09 PM
  Subject: [HANASHIR:10241] RE: Rosh Chodesh song & info


  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