by Toby Hecht
The moon has held us as a captive audience for centuries. It began long before we stepped foot on her sandy terrain after deciding to send man catapulting through the atmosphere. It began before the inflection point of sea navigation and the desperate search for an elusive longitude. It began before the dramatic trials of Harrison and Maskelyn. The latter insisted that the faithful lunar motions were more adept for accurate sea travel than Harrison’s brilliant and weather-proof timepiece.
Astronomy and philosophy vs early Silicon Valley. Celestial spheres were suddenly eclipsed by a new “face”of modernity.
We read of the scholarly pursuits to understand time, light and galaxies that troubled greats like Galileo until his dying breath. Telescopes and observatories tracking movement and alignment were funded by dukes and kings concerned with their own destinies. The enigmatic sky fueled speculation that its vastness contains the answers to the universe.
The moon in her relative simplicity and the fixed constellations often played a central theme in solving these mystifying puzzles that plagued humanity. Ancient deities, human character and even the future were informed through assumed astrological prowess.
How many times has the moon played an alluring subject in fantastical legends. Wolves and witches howl and cackle in those moon tales. Stormy moods and magical constructs react to her different shapes and luminary qualities.
Under the protective shade of her night lamp, clandestine operations changed the trajectory of nations. Moonshine not only is reminiscent of the American prohibition period but also as a stance on the early history of the people vs. government. What is her secret, this orb that makes even her name so compelling?
In truth, our reverence of the moon began at the first recording of the dawn of time; creation. The first practical question raised by Rashi, the 11th century commentator on the Torah, is on the first verse in Genesis: “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Rashi asks if this is a blueprint for Jewish life why did God begin with this narrative and not with the first commandment given to the nation, “Hachodesh Hazeh Lachem.” This month shall be for you the beginning of all months.
Rosh Chodesh which is celebrated each month was actually given in the desert (Exodus 12:2). Why then choose to begin with the history of creation? Rashi explains that God started with creation specifically so that when the Jews are challenged regarding their eternal home Israel they can respond: “The whole earth belongs to God, He created it and He gave it- this land- to us.” What does delaying the first mitzvah to set a record straight have to do with the moon?
The moon is the primary protagonist of the first commandment, as Judaism follows the lunar cycle rather than the solar. In order to chart the monthly calendar the courts had to first verify different moon sightings. The most critical sighting was when she had just begun to wax again. This determined the beginning of a new month and set the course for the holidays, a mainstay of Jewish tradition. These laws fall into the category of “Edus” testimonials of the greatness of God.
Once the court confirmed the sightings by at least two witnesses an all-points bulletin was sent across the land. Massive fires were set on hilltops to send signals from town to town. This is why outside of Israel we have two days of certain holidays as the messages to the diaspora were frequently delayed.
Hence a Jewish calendar was born.
The day Rosh Chodesh translates as “head of the month” and it encapsulates the energy of the entire month, and spiritually nurtures every day just as Rosh Hashanah does for the entire year. Why do we follow the monthly lunar cycle specifically? And why is Rosh Chodesh considered a holiday for women alone? To understand we need to explore the parallels between women and the moon.
In the beginning when the luminaries were created they were uniform in size. The moon took issue with their uniformity claiming it was impossible for “two Kings to rule.” Responding, God maintained the size of the sun yet reduced the moon comforting her with tiny bursts of lights, the stars. The glow of the moon we see on a clear night is a reflection of the sun as the earth rotates. Jewish mysticism elucidates that women and the moon represent the spiritual domain of Malchut- the 10th and lowest Sephira - Godly attribute.
God's most inner essence rests there and from this Sephira emanates all of creation. It is a heavenly vessel where the other attributes pour themselves into; a port that then channels these lofty manifestations to the lower worlds. It is because women derive from Malchut that the first woman was named Chava, “mother of all life.”
Unlike the sun whose light reigns superior and unapproachable the moon retains a more welcoming radiance. Somewhat elusive, almost mysterious, she is present even when she is not glowing. One can see her shape in a clear day sky, her shadow. There is a tranquility to her as she ebbs and flows with time. She waxes crescent to a beautiful fullness wanes crescent then disappears. The cycle of womanhood. Steadfast, she is easy on the eyes and comforting. She is passive but don’t mistake it for weakness. She’s confident and unassuming; powerful yet relatable. She represents the passage of Jewish people through time. She is a Jewish woman every day.
Comparing the woman to the moon may seem unfair. Maybe she wants to be the sun? According to Jewish mysticism, the feminine quality is that of a receiver and the masculine quality the giver. Though this idea is flexible and not mutually exclusive it is an important dynamic to consider, or perhaps to acknowledge. Women receive and then refine as such they have a profound capacity for wisdom and courage. A woman can miraculously grow and sustain life. She protects creation with her innate spiritual girth as her Godly intuition is second nature. Her soul stems from Malchut-royalty from which she provides God his people, His “kingdom”. Her calming aura yields light from her reservoir of faith.
To illustrate this concept, let us visit the story of the Golden Calf in the book of Exodus. Moses had gone up to Heaven to bring down the Tablets from God. He said 40 days and nights, but was MIA on day 40. Distraught, the male Israelites led by a small party of crafty Egyptian expats demanded an alternative God to serve. How could the Israelites be so easily swayed after having just left the foot of Sinai?
Jewish commentary explains that they were convinced by those still consumed with Egyptian mythology. These men claimed that God exists only in the heavenly realm and is disconnected from all else especially earthly matters. Local deities were designed to control beneath the heavens as God, according to Pharaoh's theology, is too great to dabble in such matters that are beneath Him. The fallacy of this belief lies in the notion that God is too lofty and remains abstract in the physical plane. As if after creation He removed Himself completely. Therefore this group approached the Israelites with an explanation of their quandary. They included that Aries was defeated by Taurus in the 10 plagues and now Taurus ie the bull is the true God here, we shall make a golden calf and serve it!
In a state of anxiety the male Israelites saw this as a rational explanation. They did not conceive for even a minute that perhaps they miscalculated a day. Their hastiness in assuming they were abandoned, this lapse of faith made them easy targets. Thus they were subtly corrupted with utter nonsense.
The women on the other hand rejected this idea entirely and immediately opted out. Why? Where did this steadfastness come from? Malchut.
Like the moon, they were moored, always whole and ready to bear testimony to God's continual presence in the world. This is the reason Judaism follows the lunar cycle. To demonstrate that because God is so lofty, so encompassing, so omnipotent is precisely why He can reside in the lower worlds. To proclaim that He is God of the heavens and the earth, the moon will carry the calendar, the lifecycle of the Jewish people. Because nothing can exist without Him and there's no place God cannot be.
It was with this faith intact that the women’s judgment was sound. They remained unmoved by external elements challenging Moses' timeline. When it was demanded they give their jewelry to the cause, they collectively refused. They were confident that Moses would return. Our foundation is strong, we’re not looking to fit in with a bunch of noisy opportunists. We inherently believe therefore we trust. One can read the juxtaposition in their desire to then contribute their jewelry and handiwork to the Tabernacle. “All the women whose hearts inspired them with wisdom.” Exodus 35:26. The commentaries say that it was because of this resoluteness, this keen perception of the universe that God gifted Jewish women a holiday. Befittingly, He gave them Rosh Chodesh, the monthly sanctification of the new moon.
The moon remains soft as she is strong, much like the nature of a woman who can envelop you with her warmth and understand your sigh. She guides those she surrounds to safe harbor, and can inspire confidence by actualizing her own potential.
Apollo 8 had just made the first circumnavigation of the moon when they encountered earthrise, the lunar sunrise in the distance off the lunar surface. It was December 24, 1968. Upon seeing the magnificent scene, the three astronauts sent a special surprise broadcast to all those on earth, including NASA. Bill Anders started “For all the people back on Earth the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.” He continued “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..”
Toby Hecht is the Director of Shabtai.
She can be reached at: toby@279crown.org