Jewish teens testify to seeing new moon on Rosh Chodesh
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Jewish teens testify to seeing new moon on Rosh Chodesh

By Staff November 7, 2013, 3:28 pm 0 Edit
People gather around the fire at Rosh Chodesh Under The Stars at the J&R Camp in Monroeville, Sunday, Nov. 3. In biblical Israel, men from each town would light torches from the fire to signify a new moon, accompanied by a new month. (Chronicle photos by Allie Wynards)
People gather around the fire at Rosh Chodesh Under The Stars at the J&R Camp in Monroeville, Sunday, Nov. 3. In biblical Israel, men from each town would light torches from the fire to signify a new moon, accompanied by a new month. (Chronicle photos by Allie Wynards)

Dozen of Jews, teens and adults ushered in the Hebrew month of Kislev, Sunday evening, Nov. 3, by participating in Rosh Chodesh Under the Stars at J&R Day Camp in Monroeville.

The program, which is part of the Agency for Jewish Learning’s Beyond the Classrooms series for teens, included a drum circle, Israeli dancing and

instruction on how to recognize the new moon, the ancient indication that a new month has begun.

In fact, Rabbi Scott Aaron, AJL community scholar, Rabbi Donni Aaron, a Jewish Community Center educator, and Rabbi Barbara Symons of Temple David in Monroeville, sat as a Beth Din (rabbinic court) hearing teens testify that they saw the new moon.

In ancient times, Jews journeyed to Jerusalem from across Israel to testify that they had seen the new moon. They were asked questions about what they had seen and when two witnesses answered correctly, Rosh Chodesh was declared and celebrated.

The next Beyond the Classroom event will be a nature hike, Sunday, Nov. 24, in Frick Park.  

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