Contacts: Aya Betensky, abetensky@abwebworks.com and
Ruth C. Reidbord, rcreidbord@gmail.com, Coordinators

Please join us in our monthly celebrations of Rosh Chodesh, the new month. Our Rosh Chodesh group has been meeting for 12 years in members’ homes with a mix of “founding” and newer members. We open each meeting with an introductory poem, blessings for candle-lighting and wine, a summary of the month’s holidays and historic events that occurred during the month, and a bio of an interesting woman who died during the month. Then we get to know each other through introductions and move on to a presentation or discussion. Every year or two we select a theme for the year. This year, building on last year’s theme, we are reading and discussing more short stories written by Jewish women in America, Latin America and Israel.

Our next meeting will be for Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, on Monday, June 10, 2013, at 7:30 PM. We’ll be reading the story “Allog,” by Edith Pearlman, a sort of sequel to “Vaquita,” which we read last year, set in 1950s Israel, with Vaquita’s friend the soprano. A hired helper from East Asia becomes central to the lives of the families in an apartment house. Hanita Kossowsky will host, and Aya Betensky will lead the discussion. Please RSVP to Hanita, hanitakoss@gmail.com. This will be our last meeting until after the High Holidays.

If you would like to be added to the Rosh Chodesh Group mailing list, please contact Ruth, rcreidbord@gmail.com.

The Rosh Chodesh Group meeting for Nissan, March 26, 2012

Rosh Chodesh Schedule for 2012-2013

Monday, October 29, 2012 / Cheshvan

“The Pagan Phallus,”  by Robin Roger. A hilarious story about the aspirations of a young Jewish woman who writes ad copy for the Salvation Army.

Monday, November 12, 2012 / Kislev

“The Shawl,” by Cynthia Ozick. The horror of the Holocaust: A magic shawl that helps Rosa nurse her baby daughter in a concentration camp.
“Sailing Down the Rhine,” by Sonia Guralnik. A surprising antidote to “The Shawl”:  A group of frail, elderly women revive their memories of the Holocaust during a cruise down the Rhine.

Monday, December 10, 2012 / Tevet

“Shoes: Andante, with Variations,” by Margo Glantz. A writer recounts her obsession with shoes through language and history, giving glimpses of the life of Jews exiled from Europe who feel doubly outsiders in Latin America.

Monday, January 14, 2013 / Shevat

“Invisible Mending,” by Ruth Almog. A young girl growing up in pre-state Palestine, faced at once with her father’s death, her own dawning sexuality, and the economic, socio-political and religious tensions of the period.

Monday, February 11, 2013 / Adar

“Readers Digest,” by Dara Horn. An unexpected view of life before birth.

Monday, March 11, 2013 / Nissan

“Useful Ceremonies,” by Francine Prose. Beginning with an untraditional Passover seder, the characters act out their real lives and their fantasies.

Monday, April 15, 2013 / Iyar

“What Must I Say to You?” by Norma Rosen. The relationship between a woman and her cleaning lady (contrast “Z’mira,” which we read last year).

May 13, 2013 / Sivan

“Mrs. Saunders Writes to the World,” by Lynne Sharon Schwartz. An elderly woman, living alone, craves recognition.

Monday, June 10, 2013 / Tammuz

“Allog,” by Edith Pearlman. A sort of sequel to “Vaquita,” which we read last year, set in 1950s Israel, with Vaquita’s friend the soprano. A hired helper from East Asia becomes central to the lives of the families in an apartment house.

No Rosh Chodesh Meetings for July/Av or Elul/August. We will resume in the fall with October/Cheshvan after the High Holidays.

________________________________

Rosh Chodesh Candlelighting, text by Marcia Falk, music by Linda Hirschhorn (this is a file you can download and play to learn the song)

_______________________________

Banner photo of new moon courtesy of Joel Raupe.