Author: Melissa

Shalom!  Eve, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Miriam, and Tzippora; these are the names of the women in the Torah that you probable recognize. But what about Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzahb better known as the daughters of Zelophehad? In this week’s Torah portion, the daughters of Zelophehad petition Moses, Eleazar the priest, the chieftains, and the whole assembly, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for their right to inherit their Father’s property rights in the Land of Israel.  Zelophehad’s daughters argued that were they not to inherit, then Zelophehad’s name would be lost to his clan.  Moses took their case to God.  God told Moses that the plea of Zelophehad’s daughters was just, and that they should be granted their father’s hereditary holding (Wikipedia).  The daughters of Zelophehad are amongst the few women that we hear about in the Torah and we should be proud that they saw an injustice and stood up for what is right.

This Shabbat, we announce Rosh Chodesh, the coming of the new moon.  Rosh Chodesh has long been considered a special holiday for women. There are a number of reasons. First, according to legend, the holiday was a reward given to the women of Israel because they refused to surrender their jewelry for the creation of the Golden Calf (which, the biblical book of Exodus says, the Israelites worshipped in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt). Because of their righteousness, the women were exonerated from working on Rosh Chodesh (myjewishlearning.com).  Click here for more information on Rosh Chodesh.

This Friday evening, I have chosen settings for many of the prayers that we chant by women composers.  I hope that you will join me in song as the women did with Miriam at the Red Sea in celebration of Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh.

Hadassah has a summer film festival that will take place on four consecutive Thursdays beginning July 12 at the Greenburgh Public Library.

An article about it may be found in the Greenburgh Daily Voice

Wherever we have lived throughout our wanderings, Jews have been extraordinarily loyal citizens of our adopted countries.  In part it is to combat the frequent charge of dual-loyalty that followed us from country to country.  But even more it has been out of love and appreciation for our adopted homelands.  The Jewish love affair with America goes all the way back to our arrival in New Amsterdam over 350 years ago.  America has been very good to the Jews.  So it is fitting that we take some time on the Shabbat closest to July 4 to acknowledge all that America has meant to us.  Tonight we will be outdoors, and tomorrow we’ll be in the chapel.  Celebrate Shabbat and America with us!

One other note:  on Sunday I leave for a familiarization tour of Jewish Morocco.  If the hotel wifi works, I hope to post photos and thoughts on the blog at our new website.  Please take a look beginning Monday evening at https://tba-ny.org/blog-page/.