[HANASHIR:15799] RE: kiddush levana

[rysaa <rysaa...>]

Gail,

thank you for sharing this.  It is beautiful.

Risa
> 
> From: Gail Greenberg <greenberg (at) jfmd(dot)org>
> Date: 2003/11/03 Mon PM 02:11:40 EST
> To: "'hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org'" <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Subject: [HANASHIR:15790] RE: kiddush levana
> 
> We recently put together a Havdallah guide that included this information
> about Kiddush Levana:
>  
> Kiddush Levana...Blessing the Moon
> 
>  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
> />
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 

Risa Askin

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