Second, that by staying away from the Kotel on the first day of Rosh Chodesh, the WOW are severing themselves from our rich and complicated and messy tradition far worse than they do by putting on talaisim and tefillin and looking up to the heavens to accept divine grace like something out of a revival tent in Georgia.
They come to our calendar from the end. They figure, there’s a new month, it’s Kislev, it starts on the first of the month, that’s November 4 – see you all there, we’ll show the Haredim what an accepting and open minded Judaism looks like, blah blah.
They have no connection to the story!
Last month, by the way, when the second Rosh Chodesh, on the first of Cheshvan, fell on Shabbat – the WOW actually did their shtick on the 30th of Tishrei, the same day they’re now ignoring. Obviously, they didn’t want to alienate those of them who are Shabbat observers.
But last month as on this month, it’s about convenience. About the individual’s needs. I’m a woman, I have demands, I’m just like you, don’t tread on me, me, me. It’s so very new-age — I would say about 2- to 3-years-old.
One last thing: on Nov. 4, day two of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, the WOW are celebrating their 25th anniversary. If you have $25, you can attend the celebrations, with Reform Rabbi nebech Pam Frydman moderating, and a long list of WOW dignitaries participating, including Anat Hoffman, Batya Kallus, Chaia Beckerman, Abby Caplin, Reform Rabbi nebech Riqi Kosovske, Reform Rabbi nebech Susan Silverman, and Dr. Bonna Haberman.
But that’s not the funny part. The funny part is the name of the Synagogue where they’re getting together: Moreshet Yisrael – Heritage of Israel.
Of that, of Moreshet Yisrael, they got nothing.