Shavua Tov/Chodesh Tov

For those of you who who don't know, "Shavua Tov" means "A good week" and "Chodesh Tov" translates to "A good month." This refers to the fact that we have just begun the Hebrew month of Elul, which involves the countdown to the High Holidays and the daily blowing of the shofar. I've been familiar with the phrase "Shavua Tov" for many years, thanks to the campy song by that title that we would sing at the end of every Shabbat at Cedar Lake Camp, where I went for many, many summers as a kid: 

"Shavua Tov, may you have a good week

May you find the happiness you seek.

Shavua Tov, may your week be fine.

May it be as sweet as the Sabbath wine..."

Before coming to Israel, I had never heard the phrase "Chodesh Tov." In fact, when I went to minyan yesterday morning, I was very confused as to why the hazzan said Hallel and Musaf (two additional parts of the service), until I realized that it was a "Rosh Chodesh," or the beginning of a new month. But around here, the greeting "Chodesh Tov" is as commonplace as Shalom. I wish I had a chance to make it over to the Kotel to celebrate the new moon, as I've heard that it's the one time each month where the women's side of the wall is full of Ruach (spirit) and action. But I've got about eight or nine more new months to celebrate in Israel, so hopefully I'll get to experience that soon. 

Thus begins my first real week of classes here in Jerusalem, and the end of my first Shabbat. Although I had initially been so excited to explore different minyanim (congregations) in Israel, my roommate Leslie and I hosted a Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner right in our own apartment. Our guests included many of her HUC classmates, plus my JTS classmate Rebecca. You can't get much more ruach than by putting together a group of future clergy and Jewish educators in one room, and while the service definitely skewed towards the Reform, I was happy to revisit some of my favorite campy melodies. All in all, it was a great beginning to my first Shabbat in Jerusalem -- not to mention the fact that Leslie is an AMAZING cook. I might actually learn a few tricks in the kitchen this year! :)

While most of my colleagues spent Saturday morning at Moreshet Yisrael, the synagogue attached to the Conservative Yeshiva, I ventured into new territory by attending services at a minyan called Kol Haneshama in the German Colony neighborhood of Jerusalem. My otherwise peaceful walk there was interrupted by many cabs honking at me, thinking I needed a ride -- perhaps my shortish skirt gave me away as someone who might not necessarily observe Shabbat. Once I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that what had been described to me as a Reform congregation in the style of New York City's B'nai Jeshurun was actually quite similar to the Conservative services at Tufts Hillel -- a strong community feel, lots of ruach and a good combination of traditional nusach and congregational melodies. The congregation was celebrating an auf ruf and a Bat Mitzvah that morning, and the highlight was most definitely an adorable speech given by the brother of the Bat Mitzvah girl, who must have been around eight years old or so. The girl had a beautiful voice, and her Hebrew was impeccable -- so good, in fact, that I had to keep reminding myself that she's reading Torah in her native language! I'll definitely be back to Kol Haneshama, even though I have a whole list of other Jerusalem synagogues that I'm curious to explore.

I haven't yet decided what I'm doing this coming Shabbat, but stay tuned for an update on that as well as details of the beginning of my Ulpan class (intensive Hebrew bootcamp) and my involvement with the Jerusalem Gilbert and Sullivan Society's production of Yeoman of the Guard! It's certainly shaping up to be a "Chodesh Tov," and I wish the same to all of you.