About Rosh Chodesh | Get Involved | Past Events
Monday, June 19th, 7:00 p.m. at TIS
What is Juneteenth and why should we celebrate it?
Juneteenth is often referred to as "America's second Independence Day" and as of 2021, it is a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in 1865. We will celebrate Rosh Chodesh this month on the 19th of June, which is a wonderful opportunity to learn about African American Jews, well-known, and others whose names are new to us.
We will learn about the challenges Jews of Color experience, We will study about widespread misconceptions among our Jewish community and non-Jews, who believe that Jews cannot be Black. We will learn about how the first Jewish resident of New England was a Black man named Solomon. We will go beyond the story of Sammy Davis, Jr., and study the stories that Jews of Color have to share, with a focus on African American Jewish Women and their incredible contributions.
Please join us for this eye-opening Juneteenth story as we celebrate Jewish women about whom we've probably never heard.
Everyone likes a little nosh
We invite you to bring a little nosh to share with everyone. Please note, all items must be new/sealed and marked with a hechsher (kosher symbol) or state that it is vegan.
Here is our Rosh Chodesh calendar for 5783 - 2022/2023
- Monday, June 19th
About Rosh Chodesh:
The first of each Jewish month—the celebration of the new moon, its slender crescent barely visible in the night sky—is a day historically associated with women’s renewal and celebration. In recent decades, Rosh Chodesh has become an occasion for Jewish women to gather for learning, ritual, and spiritual exploration, and to mark life passages.
A Rosh Chodesh group can provide a unique opportunity for women to share experiences. Talking about the joys and challenges of relationships with significant others, family and friends; the need for a spiritual dimension in our day-to-day lives; experiences with death and mourning; our Jewish upbringing, choice to be Jewish or grappling with the questions of those who are experiencing an inter-religious relationship–all are potential themes to explore. Sharing our unique stories allows each of us to broaden our own knowledge while creating a bond between group members.
We hope to have women of all ages. We believe that our diversity will be our greatest strength and allow us to learn and grow from one another. Our Rosh Chodesh group plans to meet monthly, in various homes, and offer women an exclusive and meaningful opportunity.
Get involved
Whether you’d like to host one month or have a suggestion for a discussion topic just let us know.
Past Events
Sometimes we’re able to share materials with our guests and readers from past Rosh Chodesh gatherings. The links below will take you to pdf documents that our learning guides have shared. We hope you enjoy.
What Judaism says about Sleep
presented June 2017 by Susan Keller
How Happiness Thinks
presented January 2018 by Debbie Mishek
Women's Chocolate Seder
presented by Wendy Marnoy-Schlickman and Holly Gail Baumann