[HANASHIR:15790] RE: kiddush levana

[Gail Greenberg <greenberg...>]

We recently put together a Havdallah guide that included this information
about Kiddush Levana:
 
Kiddush Levana...Blessing the Moon

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R' Yochanan said: "Anyone who blesses the new moon is as if he has greeted
the Shechina" (God's Presence).

(Sanhedrin 42A)

 

On the first Saturday evening after the new moon, we add special prayers,
the Kiddush Levana, to our Havdallah celebration.  We show God that we
appreciate the world created for us.

 

There is a famous story called "The Sun and the Moon":

On the fourth day of creation, "God created two luminaries." Originally the
sun and moon were the same size, until the moon asked God, "Sovereign of the
Universe, can two kings share a single crown?" God replied by telling the
moon to go and make itself smaller. "Sovereign of the Universe," the moon
cried "because I presented a proper claim, must I make myself smaller?"
And God, realizing the justice of her plea, compensated the moon, by
promising that she would rule by night, and that Israel would calculate the
calendar by her. God - also promised that eventually the moon would be
restored to the same size as the sun.  Babylonian Talmud Chullin, 60a.

 

The prayers are recited only when we can see the moon, and contain the
recitation of psalms and special brachot.  Share this prayer as a family to
extend your Havdallah experience:

 

            New moon, teach us to value our darkness, even as you move into
the light.  Let us give voice to what is silent.  Let us make visible what
is hidden.  Just as this new moon creates anew the cycle of the month, so
too may it inspire us to create anew ourselves and our faith. 

 

Blessed are You, God, who renews the months. 

Baruch Atah Adonai, M'Chadesh hachadashim.

 

After we thank God for all of the creations, we turn to others to wish them
"Shalom Aleichem", Peace be to You, as a way of extending our connection
with God to those around us.

 

There is also a lot of info at this site
http://www.cckollel.org/html/parsha/shemos/mishpatim5763.html
<http://www.cckollel.org/html/parsha/shemos/mishpatim5763.html> 

 

I have done this service once with students I teach (5th and 6th graders)
and we added learning about the lunar cycle and songs like Heveinu Shalom
Aleichem and Hallelu.  The kids really got into it!

 

Gail

 

Gail Greenberg, Senior Staff Associate
J.E.F.F.-Jewish Experiences For Families
Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education
6735 Telegraph Road Suite 370
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
248.205.2536
248.645.7867 (fax)
 <mailto:greenberg (at) jfmd(dot)org> greenberg (at) jfmd(dot)org
http://www.thisisfederation.org/alliance

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Golda18 (at) aol(dot)com [mailto:Golda18 (at) aol(dot)com]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 2:01 PM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:15789] kiddush levana


Kiddush Levana is a special kiddush that is done when there is a full moon.
I assume that it is levana meaning white.  i don't know anything about the
derivation.
gail nalven