Rosh Chodesh: Welcoming the New Jewish Month

The Jewish month of Cheshvan is known for rain!
This umbrella project seemed to also fit in with our Noach theme this week.

We are big on creating meaningful family traditions and celebrations here--even (and especially) over the little things! The Jewish calendar runs on a lunar cycle, and Rosh Chodesh (literally the head of the month) is welcomed with the new moon and holiday status. It is a special day (sometimes two days)--particularly for women--to celebrate the blessings that will, G-d willing, be bestowed upon the month ahead. Additional prayers are said and many have the custom to eat a nice meal, dress in nicer clothing, or otherwise give the day(s) a bit of a celebratory feeling.
Tuesday and Wednesday of this week marked Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. With the month of Tishrei and all of its many holidays now behind us, I wanted to give Rosh Chodesh an extra feeling of joy--particularly since the month of Cheshvan has no holidays at all! Here's a peek at how we honored the occasion this month and some of the things we have done to celebrate on Rosh Chodesh in the past.

I set out a festive Table Time activity this morning, lit a scented candle and popped on some of our favorite Jewish music to set the tone for our day ahead. We had some challah dough we brought home from a wonderful playgroup we attended at our synagogue yesterday. Today in honor of Rosh Chodesh and Parshas Noach, we decorated it with some rainbow sprinkles!

He wanted it to be shaped like a braid! We worked together on rolling three little balls of dough into "snakes" and shaping a braid. He may or may not have consumed several handfuls of sprinkles instead of his toast this morning.

We begin our morning homeschool routine each day by giving tzedakah (charity) and singing our morning prayers and songs. On Rosh Chodesh, I add a special song about the new month:

The time moves on so quickly

See how the days fly

________ [previous month] is now over

It's time to say goodbye

Goodbye, goodbye to _________ [previous month] (repeat 3x)

And welcome _______! [new month]

A basket of instruments added some extra fun and excitement to our usual morning daavening (prayers).

Watercolor painting a paper plate umbrella for the rainy month of Cheshvan!

On some months we've invited over a friend for a special Rosh Chodesh themed play party. We pick out special paper plates, blow up balloons, make a special snack and pull out some favorite themed activities and crafts. Here's a blast from Rosh Chodesh past...

Snack time!

Even new month celebrations deserve party hats & balloons!

"moon dough" playdough to honor the new moon

"moon rocks" made from crumpled tinfoil--really great for a game of Moon Rock Basketball

Chodesh Tov & Happy Celebrating!