Tishrei 5784 (September 19, 2023)
Chodesh Tov! Happy Tishrei!
Apologies for the late newsletter, Tishrei actually began on Rosh HaShanah, which this year was on September 15. I was busy with moving, Rabbinical school, and holiday prep and didn't have a chance to write this newsletter. Also- I have new branding! Woohoo!
Tishrei is the first month of the Jewish civil year, and contains many of the Haggim (holy days) that Jews hold dear. You can read more about those Haggim HERE.
This year, much like two years ago, Tishrei lines up really well with a real transition in my life. All the talk about change, turning, and returning is ringing true as a begin my first semester of Rabbinical school and various Rabbinic internships and teaching opportunities. I'm thankful for the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and my classmates for easing the transition, and to West Chester Hillel, Kol Tzedek Torah School, and Beth Tikvah B'nai Jerushun Religious School for giving me spaces to grow and develop my "Rabbinic muscles."
Here's a Tishrei prompt to think/write/draw/meditate about, and you can check out some of my popular media from Elul below:
Tishrei Prompt
Tishrei begins on Rosh HaShanah, which we translate as the "New Year," but our Jewish texts actually claim four new years:
There are four New Years: On the first of Nissan we celebrate the new year of royalty and festivals. On the first of Elul we celebrate the new year to tithe animals, although Rabbis Elezar and Shimon believe that this should happen on the first of Tishrei. The Rabbis all agree that on the first of Tishrei, we celebrate the new year of the world, including marking a new financial year in regard to farming and debts. Rabbi Shammai believes that on the first of Shvat we celebrate the new year for trees, but Rabbi Hillel says we celebrate on the fifteenth of Shvat and we follow Rabbi Hillel.
Mishnah Rosh HaShanah 1:1, my own translation.
What does the idea of celebrating four different new years mean to you? How does this impact the way you think about how you personally mark time? How the Jewish people marks time? What meaning might each of these new years have for you personally?