April 1 was Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the first of the Jewish Month of Nissan, which also commemorates the very first Mitzvah, Commandment G-d gave to the People of Israel as a nation.
Nissan is the first month on the Jewish calendar. Before the Jews left Egypt, on the first day of the month of Nissan, G‑d told Moses and Aar
on: “This chodesh (new moon, or month) shall be to you the head of months.” Thus the peculiarity of the Jewish calendar: the year begins on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the month of Tishrei (the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve), but Tishrei is not the first month. Rosh Hashanah is actually referred to in the Torah as “the first day of the seventh month.”
As I do on every Rosh Chodesh, I was with a number of women from all over the country, praying together at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh.
I’ve been doing this for many years already. Shiloh is a very traditional place for prayer in Jewish History and tradition, especially for women. There is a very well-known story in the Bible about Chana (Hannah) who prayed there for a son. This son was not to be for her personal maternal needs. She prayed for a son who would be apprenticed to the Priests in the Mishkan, Tabernacle at Shiloh and then lead the Jewish People to the next stage, when he would anoint a king.
Chana’s son Shmuel, Samuel, was born after she had prayed in Shiloh. He was trained by Eli the High Priest and then ended up anointing not only the first king, Saul, but King David, too. King David’s dynasty is the most important in Jewish History. The Moshiach, Messiah will come from his descendants.
Women’s Rosh Chodesh Prayers are every Rosh Chodesh, 8:30am at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh. We don’t do a “women’s minyan,” but we do sing the Hallel Prayer together. We also tour the archaeological site and hear Divrei Torah, Torah lessons. More information can be found on this blog, Shiloh Musings.
Shiloh Hakeduma is the actual site of the Biblical Shiloh. You’re welcome to join our facebook page. Tel Shiloh is open to visitors daily. Tours can be arranged through the Shiloh HaKeduma, Ancient Shiloh office. Email [email protected]
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