What do we do on Rosh Chodesh?

Many Rosh Chodesh groups explore spirituality, religious education, ritual, health issues, music, chanting, art, and/or cooking. Some groups also choose to educate young Jewish women in their community about sexuality, self-image, and other women’s mental and physical health issues.

What days do you read from the Torah?

On Saturday afternoons, Mondays, and Thursdays, the beginning of the following Saturday’s portion is read. On Jewish holidays, Rosh Chodesh, and fast days, special sections connected to the day are read. Many Jews observe an annual holiday, Simchat Torah, to celebrate the completion of the year’s cycle of readings.

What is a Rosh Chodesh group?

Rosh Chodesh, the celebration of the beginning of each month in the Jewish calendar, has always existed as a women’s holiday. Each Rosh Chodesh group is unique and should reflect the interests, personalities and passions of the women involved.

Why do we say Hallel on Rosh Chodesh?

Partial Hallel is recited on Rosh Chodesh because it was introduced at a much later time than the major holidays. The miracle did not occur in the Land of Israel and, for “lesser” holidays, only those occurring in Israel merit the recitation of Hallel.

Where is the Torah read?

synagogue
The Torah scrolls are taken out from the Ark (Aron ha kodesh) and portions read in the synagogue three times each week. On Mondays and Thursdays small sections are read. The main reading is on the morning of Shabbat (Sabbath). Over the course of the year the whole scroll is read in sequence.

How long does it take to scribe a Torah?

approximately one and a half years
Written entirely in Biblical Hebrew, a Torah scroll contains 304,805 letters, all of which must be duplicated precisely by a trained scribe, or sofer, an effort which may take as long as approximately one and a half years.

Why is Psalm 136 called The Great Hallel?

Judaism. The term Great Hallel (Hallel HaGadol), meaning “great praise”, is used to refer to Psalm 136. It is called “great” to differentiate it from the Egyptian Hallel, another prayer of praise comprising psalms 113 to 118.

What does hallel mean in Hebrew?

Praise
Hallel, (Hebrew: “Praise”), Jewish liturgical designation for Psalms 113–118 (“Egyptian Hallel”) as read in synagogues on festive occasions. In time, the term Hallel came to mean the “Great Hallel,” Psalm 136, which is used in the morning service on the Sabbath, festivals, and during the Passover seder.

What is it called when you read from the Torah?

An aliyah (Hebrew עליה, or aliya and other variant English spellings) is the calling of a member of a Jewish congregation to the bimah for a segment of Torah reading. The person who receives the aliyah goes up to the bimah before the reading and recites a blessing for reading of the Torah.

How much is a Torah COST?

The cost of writing a Torah scroll is estimated at USD$30,000 to $100,000. The finished Torah scroll is used during prayer services in a synagogue or other sanctuary, such as that of a yeshiva, rabbinical college, university campus, nursing home, military base, or other institution.