The Moon & Jewish Holidays

The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar. Since the spread of the Gregorian calendar throughout the Christian world in the 16th and 17th centuries, most of us are familiar with solar years. But what does it mean that Jewish holidays always align with their designated Moon phase (new, first quarter, full, or third quarter)? What might this have meant to ancient Jews who had a clear view of the night sky? How might we use the shape of the Moon’s reflective surface to enrich our experience of our holidays? And how can we feel into each holiday starting with its rosh chodesh (new moon)? We will foster deep understandings by combining direct observation of the Moon, reading & text study, sacred rituals, independent journalling, and lively discussions.