There is a Jewish tradition to bless the renewal of the moon once each month from three days after the new moon appears and before it reaches fullness. The full text of this outdoor ceremony, translated by Rabbi David Seidenberg, can be found here. Blessing the moon is called Kiddush Levana (sanctification of the moon) in Ashkenazic tradition and Birkat Halevana (blessing the moon) in Sephardic tradition. Often it takes place on a Saturday night and has a celebratory air. The ritual, historically recited by men after synagogue evening prayers, has been adapted by some contemporary Jewish men’s groups (in a parallel to women’s Rosh Hodesh groups) as a time for men to gather for spiritual celebration and personal growth. A program of national and regional nature retreats to help men support one another in becoming mensches, “men of compassion, integrity, and spirit,” can be found here at Menschwork.
Of course, like Rosh Hodesh, the ritual of Kiddush Levana can be meaningful to people of all genders. Here is the text of the main blessing (handy to have on your phone), with Rabbi Seidenberg’s translation. You are sure to find some echoes of the Midrash of the Moon:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Blessed be You YHVH Adonai, our God, ruler of all space and time
אֲשֶׁר בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ בָּרָא שְׁחָקִים, וּבְרוּחַ פִּיו כָּל צְבָאָם
who with God’s word created galaxies, and with the breath of God’s mouth all of their hosts
חֹק וּזְמַן נָתַן לָהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יְשַׁנּוּ אֶת תַּפְקִידָם
law and time God gave to them, so they would not change their course
שָֹשִֹים וּשְֹמֵחִים לַעֲשֹוֹת רְצוֹן קוֹנָם
joyful and happy to do the will of the One who possesses them,
פּוֹעֵל אֱמֶת, שֶׁפְּעֻלָּתוֹ אֱמֶת וְלַלְּבָנָה אָמַר שֶׁתִּתְחַדֵּשׁ
True Worker whose work is true. And God said to the moon levanah, “Renew yourself!”
עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת לַעֲמוּסֵי בָטֶן
a crown of beauty to the womb-laden (or: those carried in the womb)
שֶׁהֵם עֲתִידִים לְהִתְחַדֵּשׁ כְּמוֹתָהּ, וּלְפָאֵר לְיוֹצְרָם
who are destined to renew themselves like her, and to glorify the One who formed them
עַל שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ:
by the name of glory of God’s kingdom.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מְחַדֵּשׁ חֳדָשִׁים:
Blessed be You, YHVH Adonai, who makes new the renewing-moons m’chadesh chodashim!
Learn more here and here about the history and meaning of this ceremony.
Featured image: Moon in Winter_Moon Jaz via flicker
Learn about the Solar Eclipse as a spiritual experience, or return to the Gateway of the Moon.
In addition to the texts and rituals on Kiddush Levana this prayer service also defines and indirectly educates Jewish people about the 13-day waxing period of the moon every month.
1 We learn that the moon will always be visible between 6 & 8 pm during its 13-day waxing period.
2 We learn that the moon will always be prominent in the afternoon during the 1st quarter or in mid-evening during the 2nd quarter.
3 The waxing period of the moon also appears to be a preferred time frame in Judaism, as there are more holidays and fasts then.
Thanks for sharing and teaching us more! The notable exception will be Hanukkah, in the waning of the moon.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE …..
CHANUKAH’S AMAZING ASTRONOMY Copyright 2024 Jeffrey Warren Hyman. All rights reserved.
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IT’S THE DARK OF THE SUN AND MOON NOW
Chanukah is considered the darkest 8 days of the year. We know December has the longest nights and Chanukah takes place around the new moon. There are only around 12 hours of dim crescent moonlight now seen near the horizon and in the wee hours of the morning… until the last night when the moon is seen in the early evening.
THE SUN & MOON ARE SEEN FURTHEST SOUTH (IN TANDEM)
During Chanukah the sun and moon are seen moving southward. We know the sun is furthest south on December 21st and that the moon always reaches its extreme southern declination in December on the new moon (give or take a day or two), but the moon isn’t visible until 2 days after the new moon. which is the last night of Chanukah.
IT’S A CAUTIONARY PERIOD FOR SOLAR AND LUNAR NAVIGATION
The sun and moon are so far south now they both sometimes give low to the horizon S/SW compass headings. This is what confused Captain Taylor on Flight 19. On December 5, 1945 at 3:40 pm his distress call… “Both my compasses are out”. He was likely referring to the sun appearing to set in the south which is impossible. This took place on the 7th night of Chanukah.
THERE’S A SIGHTING ON THE LAST NIGHT
On the 8th and final night of Chanukah all the candles are lit, as the sun and moon (in tandem) are seen furthest south for the entire year at 5 PM… the same as it was thousands of years ago. This is a glorious sight.
THE SOLAR & LUNAR CYCLES BEGIN CHANGING
The last day of Chanukah known as Zos Hanukkah is a celebration. I feel it was a seasonal marker that the bleakest part of winter has passed. The moon begins waxing now, with more light, safer navigation as it’s moving northward, with the sun soon to follow. In my opinion the ancients perceived the last day of Chanukah as a changing seasonal window and also as the Hebrew solstice (solar and lunar)!
That’s some fascinating celestial info! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful poem and artwork.