#rosh chodesh

I love the way Jewish astrology looks at the month of Adar. The sign is the fish, and it’s the only month in the zodiac that is always talked about in the plural. I was thinking about that duality while I was drawing this, especially the idea that there’s always two sides to our joy, internal and external.

Because fish live entirely under the water, there’s this beautiful tradition that they’re the only sign completely immune to the evil eye. They’re protected by the very thing that keeps them hidden from the rest of the world. It’s a perfect reminder for this month that our luck and our miracles don’t always have to be loud or visible to be real. Sometimes the most beautiful growth is taking shape in the deep where no one else can see it.

Our luck is at its healthiest and most resilient during Adar. It’s the month where we’re encouraged to intentionally increase our joy, which feels like the perfect excuse to just lean into the flow and trust the process.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov 🐟🧿🩵

Yes, today is Rosh Chodesh Nisan.

Rosh Chodesh Nisan is the start of the month of Adar on the Hebrew calendar.

The minor holiday Rosh Chodesh is observed each new moon at the beginning of each Hebrew month.

Holidays to anticipate in Nisan:

Major Holidays:

Pesach (Passover) on 15-22 Nisan (April 2-9)

Minor Holidays:

Ta’anit Bechorot on 14 Nisan (April 01)

Modern Holidays:

Yom HaShoah on 27 Nisan (April 14)

Special Shabbatot:

"In the West, they recite the following blessing: 'Blessed is the One who renews the months.' Our women recite this one too."

- Sanhedrin 42a:4

Chagim in your mirror are closer than they appear.

DON'T PANIC.

Fish Head: Rosh Hashanah means head of the year. Rosh = head, ha = the, shanah = year. We eat the heads of various animals to symbolize the head of the new year. Vegans/vegetarians may also eat a head of cabbage or lettuce.

Figs: Figs are one of the sacred foods.

Leeks: One of the Simanim, represents asking for protection and cutting our enemies off.

Pomegranates: One of the sacred foods, pomegranates are believed to contain 613 kernels, representing the mitzvot as well as fertility and bounty.

Apples: Eaten to bring sweetness to the new year, typically dipped in honey or baked into a cake.

Honey: While it was historically date honey, honey is believed to be a sacred food. It is eaten at the new year to bring in sweetness. Often baked into a cake.

Dates: One of our sacred foods, eaten to bring sweetness to the new year.

chag sameach and chodesh tov my jews! (our public hanukkiah is an electric one in the window bc lol flaming torch)

My shul had its first rosh chodesh celebration and we decorated journals to use to explore the themes and thoughts of the month. It was a really lovely get together and I can't wait for next month!

כְּתִיבָה וַחֲתִימָה טוֹבָה. אָמֵן.