Living in a Western culture as we do, most of us mark time according to the Gregorian calendar, a strictly solar calendar in which the new year begins every January 1, that month being the first month in a twelve-month series spanning 365 days. There is a slight problem with this solar calendar in that the number of days required for the earth to make a complete cycle around the sun is 365 ¼ days. Therefore, each year is a quarter of day short. This is remedied by adding an additional day to February every four years in order that the calendar remains synchronized with the earth’s trip around the sun. As children, we were taught pneumonicly how to remember which months were thirty and which were thirty-one days and how to deal with February’s unique length and additional day every four years. Easy-peasy!
We are also aware that there is a Jewish calendar also of twelve months in duration but not synchronized with those of the Gregorian calendar. We even joke about it when we say that “the holidays are either early or late but never on time!” The Jewish calendar is quite a bit more complicated. It is a lunar calendar (the word “month” is derived from the word “moon”). However, there is a problem with a strict lunar calendar, especially for an agrarian society like the one in which our ancestors lived. That problem is that twelve, relatively equal months following the moon’s cycle add up to only 354 days, eleven days short of a solar year. This means that festivals which hallow seasonal changes would be progressively “behind” each year! In three years they would arrive over a month early, in six months over two months early, and so forth! Therefore the Jewish calendar has to make up those losses by adding not a day to one month in the calendar but adding a month every two or three years to insure that Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer sacred times remain in their proper seasons. We are currently in such a year and are in the second month named Adar (normally the twelfth month year, but this year it was twelfth and thirteenth).
But wait! There’s more! If Adar is the twelfth month of the year, what month was Tishrei, the month in which we celebrated Rosh Hashanah? It was the seventh month! How do we know? This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Hachodesh (Chodesh is the Hebrew word for “month” and is derived from the word for “new”). It is so called because it immediately precedes or falls on Rosh Chodesh (“the new month of”) Nisan. In a special Torah reading from a second scroll, we learn this Shabbat that it is called the first month because the text begins, “. . . This month (Hachodesh Hazeh) shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you.” (Exodus 12:2) So, the New Year begins with the seventh month, and six months later (seven in a leap year) it is the first month?!
Why is the coming month called “the first of all of the months of year,” when if falls in the middle of the year? There are two familiar examples which may aid in understanding this seeming contradiction. One is the concept of a fiscal year. The second example is one that is familiar to every person. It is the concept of a birth day. No matter when the common year begins, every person counts his/her own years beginning with the day on which s/he is born. The annual birthday is the manner in which one marks the years of one’s life. One does not become a year older on January 1 unless that coincides with one’s birth day. Each person’s personal new year begins then, thus in a manner of speaking that month is the first month of that person’s year. So, a person born in July would count that month as the first of his/her years of life.
Shabbat Hachodesh announces that the birth day of the Jewish people, Pesach/Passover, is coming, the first month marking the transition from an enslaved people to a free people. Out of that narrow place (Mitzrayim/Egypt) the Jewish people enter the world stage, and Jews the world over mark that birth day with the Festival of Unleavened Bread/Pesach/Passover. Rosh Hashanah may mark the birthday of the world, but Jews mark their own birthday six months later in the first month in which we first began to exist. May the Festival of Freedom continue to inspire the Jewish people and all people to value freedom and to resist tyranny and enslavement for many more years to come.
Shabbat Shalom! Chodesh Tov! Chag Same’ach! Rabbi Josef Davidson
Shabbat Service Schedule & Candle Lighting Times
Shabbat Candlelighting:
Friday, April 1, at 7:07 pm
Havdalah, Saturday, April 2 at 7:56 pm
This Shabbat we welcome Liam Haim Shoghi to the Bimah for his Bar Mitzvah. Liam is the son of Mariel and Yitzhak Shoghi and brother of Edan Jacob Shoghi. His grandparents are Sara (Z”L) and Richi Brechner & Rachel and Haim Shoghi.
Shabbat School Programming 5782 for K-8th Grade: 10:00 am
Please arrive at 10:00 am. Students will be in programming from 10:00 am till Services end. Parents are encouraged to attend services and then pick up their students at 11:15 am or at the end of services. Everyone is welcome to join for Kiddush luncheon.
Torah For Today with Rabbi Neal Rose in the Community Room: 10:00 - 11:30 am
Mini Minyan with Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham in the LRECC Kikar: 10:15 am
All children Pre-Kindergarten and younger and their special adult or family members are invited for a special monthly Shabbat Morning Service in the LRECC Kikar! Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham will lead the group in meaningful traditions and activities in celebration and honor of Shabbat. Everyone is welcome to join for Kiddush luncheon.
Shabbat Afternoon/Evening Services with Lester Goldman and David Kantor in the Guller Chapel: 6:30 pm
Pre-Bar Mitzvah Participation of Zachary Nathanson
Shabbat teaching given by Lester Goldman
Torah read by Michael Nathanson
Seudah Shlishit sponsored by Cantor Sharon & Michael Nathanson and family.
The women of Kolot are invited to the Women's ONE DAY Retreat hosted by Nishmah. Together with females from all across the St. Louis area, we will celebrate, learn, relax and schmooze! Please RSVP at www.nishmah.org.
ORT in Conversation Combating Antisemitism Through Education: A Global and Local Perspective Monday, April 4, 2022 5:00 pm via Zoom
B'nai Amoona is proud to partner with ORT America for "ORT in Conversation," as we explore how education impacts the fight against antisemitism, both globally and locally. Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose and Liessa Alperin will be guest speakers at this event.
Jewish National Fund-USA Invites You to Breakfast for Israel Wednesday, April 6, 2022 8:00 - 9:00 am
Join Jewish National Fund-USA and fellow supporters from across the Midwest virtually for our Breakfast for Israel. Learn about our critical work supporting the land and people of Israel and hear from Gil Hoffman, Chief Political Correspondent and Analyst for The Jerusalem Post. Gil provides a behind the scenes look at the intrigue in the Israeli political arena.
Zoom link provided upon registration. Click HEREto register.
Celebrate Pesach with B'nai Amoona
Pesach is right around the corner! Please click on the link below to visit our Passover Page.
Kid-Friendly Family Seder Friday, April 15 at 6:00 pm JCC Staenberg Family Complex:
2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146
This year, B'nai Amoona is teaming up with the St. Louis Jewish Community Center to host a Kid-Friendly Family Seder on the First Night. Rabbi Brad Horowitz and Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham will lead us in this interactive Seder - online registration is required.
Sheryl Kalman, Craig Kalman, & James and Katherine Wangelin on the marriage of their children, Kenny Kalman and Heidi Wangelin. Grandparents are Harold (Z”L) and Yana (Z”L)Shapiro , Edwin (Z”L) and Blanche (Z”L) Kalman, William (Z”L) and Jane (Z”L) Wangelin, & Elizabeth (Z”L) and Albert (Z”L) Allen.
WE MOURN THE PASSING OF...
Jerome S Kraus (Jerry) husband of Linda Kraus, father and father in law to Ken & Anita Kraus, passed away on March 26, 2022. Jerry was the grandfather of Danny & Mara and Ben Kraus. Brother and Brother in law to:Alan (Beverly Z’l) Kraus, Michael and Kathy Kraus, Eunice (Jack Z’l) Levy and many relatives and friends.
Weekday Minyan Information Join us In-Person or on Zoom, BA Livestream or Facebook Live
Regular Morning Minyanim Sunday Morning Minyan: 9:00 am Monday - Friday Morning Minyan: 7:00 am In-Person, Zoom, Livestream, and FB Live Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201 Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201 This Zoom link is for all morning Minyan Services
Regular Evening Minyanim
Sunday - Thursday Evening Minyan: 6:15 pm via Zoom, Livestream, and FB Live Zoom Link:https://zoom.us/j/97924715014 Meeting ID: 979 2471 5014 This Zoom link is for all evening Minyan Services
We Pray For Peace In Ukraine
Our hearts continue to be with the people of Ukraine and their loved ones. Please click the image below to be directed to our Ukraine Support Page where you will find tangible ways to support Ukraine, informative articles and webinars, and upcoming events.
