TBT Women - Kol Ami
Kol Ami – Voices of Friends
Open to All Women at TBT!
Kol Ami is the TBT women’s group. Kol Ami sponsors spiritual, social, cultural and educational programs which are of particular interest to the women of TBT.
Do you have a suggestion for an activity or a great movie to watch? Would you like to facilitate a movie discussion? New ideas for Kol Ami? Let us know! Contact Tina Silidker or Susan Lustig.
Rosh Chodesh is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the start of a new month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the birth of a new moon. The name literally translates to "head of the month".
Here are some things to know about Rosh Chodesh:
Length of celebration
Rosh Chodesh is celebrated for one or two days, depending on the length of the previous month:
29-day month: Rosh Chodesh is celebrated for one day, on the first day of the new month.
30-day month: Rosh Chodesh is celebrated for two days, on the last day of the previous month and the first day of the new month.
Significance
The Jewish people have marked the new moon since leaving slavery in Egypt. The first commandment given to the Jewish people was to mark each new moon.
Connection to women
The Talmud recounts a legend that women were forbidden from working on Rosh Chodesh. Some say this was because women were involved in the construction of the Mishkan, spinning, weaving, and sewing.
Connection to the moon
The moon's status is often compared to the status of women. The Zohar, a mystical work, frequently compares the moon to the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, which is considered the feminine aspect of God.
Jewish Journeys - Everyone Has a Life Story
We would love to share more of our congregants’ Jewish life experiences together!
If you are willing to talk to the congregation during a Zoom program, about your family’s history or a meaningful experience you have had please reach out to Tina or Susan.
This program is made possible, in part, by Temple Beth Tikvah’s 2 Way L’Dor V’Dor program, with support from a Community Grant for the Jewish Elderly from the Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven. The project aims to increase opportunities for social connection and intergenerational understanding by inviting congregants of all ages to interact.
Helena Schanzer shared her story at a Jewish Journeys presentation and with our Religious School students. Read about it HERE.
Kol Ami Ongoing Hikes
Now that the weather is improving and we are literally able to stop and smell the flowers, we would like to re-invite all the women of Kol Ami to join our hiking groups. Please let us know if you would like to be on our email list for our weekly hikes and/ or you would be interested in leading hikes. Please respond to Lisa Harding HERE.
We welcome your participation in the start of a vibrant new women’s group. The focus of the group will be determined by your input. This is an opportunity for your ideas to shape our gatherings. We have already heard enthusiastic interest in social, educational, spiritual, and cultural programming.
