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Shevat is the 11th month on the Jewish calendar counting from Nissan. The zodiac sign is Aquarius and its symbol the “waterbearer” makes us reflect on the Biblical verse, “Water will flow from his wells” because it alludes figuratively speaking as the ability in each one of us ‘to pour’ knowledge and inspire/lead others, just as a Tzadik would in order to bring them closer to G/d. Shevat is a special acrostic for “we should hear good news’ it’s a month of good news, Shenishma Besurot Tovot, that we should be blessed to share good tidings.
The notorious celebration during this month is the holiday of Tu B’Shvat on the 15 Shevat (January 25) which is the “New Year for Trees.” In Israel, it is the start of a new growing season and the day that is marked by eating fruits, particularly those from the “Seven Kinds” with which Israel is blessed with wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. We reflect on the metaphor “Man is a tree of the field.” Just as the Torah is considered a Tree of Life we notice that both, Torah and Mankind, possess the same components; roots, trunk, branches and fruit.
There are two tribes on this month. The tribe of Asher and his name means pleasure and happiness. The special tree that Asher personifies is the olive tree, which gives the goodly oil with which Asher’s portion in the land of Israel was blessed with. The Tribe of Joseph is connected to Asher’s because it was Asher’s daughter who gave the news to Jacob that Joseph was alive.
The letter: Tzade צ (resembles a tree). Interestingly, the letter of the previous month, Tevet, is ayin (ע), which means “an eye” and when the ayin of Tevet is lifted up to connect with the tzadik of Shevat, the word “tree” (עֵץ) is formed.
The limb is the stomach and the attribute is Taste, which figuratively through the stomach we digest and derive pleasure by internalizing the words of Torah.
The permutation of the month is: Hey, Yud, Vav Hei, found in the pasuk; Vaykra 27 verse 33
לֹ֧א יְבַקֵּ֛ר בֵּֽין־ט֥וֹב לָרַ֖ע וְלֹ֣א יְמִירֶ֑נּוּ וְאִם־הָמֵ֣ר יְמִירֶ֔נּוּ וְהָֽיָה־ה֧וּא וּתְמוּרָת֛וֹ יִֽהְיֶה־קֹּ֖דֶשׁ לֹ֥א יִגָּאֵֽל׃
“If you offer a substitute” In the end, both are holy. Meaning that it is our duty to always improve in what we offer.
The Midrash explains that Moses spent the last month of his life, the month of Shevat translating the entire Torah into the 70 major languages then spoken. This is a fundamental lesson as every Jew has a connection to the Torah, even one who cannot read it in its original tongue.
Under the current circumstances, we hang on to the ‘good news month’ and hope that the future will be filled with joy, blessings of abundance in our lives, of new life, goodness and kindness improving in each and every one of us. Ken Yehi Ratzon.
by Teresa Quiroz, on behalf of Women of Holy Blossom
Shacharit Service: Thursday, January 11, 2024, 7:30 am ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09
Password: 667580
For other upcoming dates and why Rosh Chodesh is special for women see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/
Women of Holy Blossom (WHB) invites those who identify as female and are 30-50 years of age to this unique literary discussion group. More free-flowing than a book club, less spiritual than a Rosh Chodesh group, and more informal than a lecture, Lilith Salons feature lively conversation in a safe and relaxed setting, with folks like you and unlike you. Thoughts, opinions, and vents of all kinds are welcomed.
With facilitator Sharon Neiss Arbess, author and Holy Blossom Board member, we will review a selection of articles from the most recent issue of Lilith Magazine, an independent, Jewish-American, and “frankly feminist” publication.
Participants will subscribe to Lilith Magazine, at this link, and commit to attending four in-person salons, between March and December of 2024. The day, time, and location will be determined by the group. This cohort’s capacity is limited, on a first-come-first-serve basis. So, don’t delay in registering at this link.
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Tevet is the 10th month on the Jewish calendar, counting from Nisan. The number 10 is considered a holy number. Tevet is mentioned in the book of Esther and was acquired in Babylonia and shares a root with the Hebrew word tov, meaning “good”. A month that is good and a month that is holy.
The zodiac symbol is Capricorn, the goat (gedi). We find in the story of Rivka, where Jacob was sent to get “two good goats” for his father. Why two? It hints as the blessings he would receive would be good for him and also for his children (future generation). The limb of the month is the Liver (snake). In Kabbalah, there are three “rulers” of the body and soul, the brain, the heart, and the liver, which correspond respectively to Adam, Eve, and the snake. The Tribe of the Month is Dan, which was the last tribe at the end of the queue when the tribes were wandering in the desert. Their job was to return lost items from the previous tribes and therefore they were doing good acts of kindness by finding and returning lost items.
The letter of the month is Ayin (ע) which means “Eye” or “to See” someone who is wise to see that G/d is in everything and everywhere.
The permutation for the month: is וּהיה and this can be found in the pasuk in Psalms 34- 4
גַּדְּל֣וּ לַֽיהֹוָ֣ה אִתִּ֑י וּנְרֽוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו:
(Declare the greatness of the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together).
The word אתי(with me) which equals 411, How? א=1ת=400י=10
The word טבת also equals 411, How?ט=9ב=2ת=400
Both words above in the Gematria add up to 411 which means it is the month of “good”. This brings us to the significant meaning of “The body derives pleasure from the body”. We are encouraged to perform acts of kindness, and goodness/mitzvoth during this month as the simple act of giving and receiving are gratifying to both the receiver and the donor. Much-needed help is requested now more than ever.
Please donate (tzedakah) to help make this world a better world.
During this month the siege of Jerusalem happened “On the 10th day, on the 10th of the month Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia, came against Jerusalem and encamped against it”.
Tevet begins with the last days of Chanukah internalizing the message of the ever-increasing lights of our candles, the light reminding us of the power of good over evil—we can reveal the good that is hidden in our lives and the world around us. May the Chanukah lights illuminate and radiate joy, health and contentment over you and your loved ones. Ken Yehi Ratzon.
by Teresa Quiroz, on behalf of Women of Holy Blossom
Shacharit Service: Wednesday, December 13, 2023, ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09
Password: 667580
For other upcoming dates and why Rosh Chodesh is special for women see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/
By Gillian Rosenberg, Communications Coordinator, Women of Holy Blossom
November 2023
As many of you know, Women of Holy Blossom has several social media accounts, including Instagram, Threads, X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube. We are proud to be content producers and content consumers. And for the most part, it has been worthwhile, gratifying, and fun.
But this is a very difficult time to be on social media. I don’t need to tell you why. I’m sure many of you have decided to take a break or been given such advice.
WHB considered doing that, as well. But after some soul searching, we decided to remain active, for two very Jewish reasons.
The first is to bear witness.
In the Torah, the verse of the Shema, Judaism’s central declaration and call to listen, to turn our clear attention to Divine unity, has two letters that are enlarged – the ע in the word שמע/listen and the ד in the word אחד /One. These two letters spell עד /witness. It is a sacred obligation to listen, to bear witness, not to look away, and from the act of bearing witness, to respond.
–Rabbi Miriam Margles, Danforth Jewish Circle, Toronto, March 1, 2022
Our presence on social media enables us to observe not only what is posted about the Jewish people and about Israel, but also who is doing the posting. We hold accountable those who post misinformation, disinformation, half-truths, lies, hatred, hyperbole, and propaganda, by reporting individual posts and entire accounts to the platform administrators, under categories of hate speech or symbols, false information, and/or violent and hateful entities.
We are also able to acknowledge our allies, Jewish and non-Jewish, who are courageous and outspoken with facts, knowledge, reason, and truth. Two, in particular, are Loay Alshareef (@lalshareef) and Noa Tishby (@noatishby). Loay is a Muslim, living in Abu Dhabi. Long before this war began, he has been promoting peace between Jews and Muslims through the lens of common language and shared history. Since the war, he has been unwavering in his support for Israel and the Jews. Noa is well known to us as an Israeli model, actress, special envoy, and best-selling author. Now in Los Angeles, she has emerged as a global voice for our people—articulate, knowledgeable, and composed. And we are proud to say that she recently “liked” one of WHB’s Instagram posts. There are many others who we also support by following and whose posts we “like” and repost.
The second reason we remain active on social media is to be a light unto the nations.
We understand our Jewish mission to include being a light unto the nations, which obliges us to contribute to humanity’s appreciation for holiness, morality and piety.
–Between Jerusalem & Rome, by Rabbinical Council of America, Conference of European Rabbis, Chief Rabbinate of Israel, 2017
Abandoning social media to those who are hateful, irrational, ignorant, naïve, mean-spirited, and immoral would be to shirk our responsibility in this world. Instead, we strive to be a source of gemilut chasadim, justice, and goodness, posting and reposting content that reflects the type of world we are commanded to work toward. Such posts include those about mitzvah days, allyship, life cycle celebrations, the arts, heroes of humanity, and love stories.
We also strive to be a light unto our own nation, representing the continuity and resilience of Jewish life and Jewish community. We promote events and activities, hype our upcoming holidays, and celebrate our legacy, as we move through the Jewish calendar.
While we are confident and steadfast in our decision to remain active on social media, it comes at some psychological risk. Doom scrolling is addictive. The extent of Jew-hatred, terrifying. The erasing of Israel’s contributions to the world, depressing. And being deserted by individuals and groups to which we were an ally, disheartening.
But Women of Holy Blossom has broad shoulders and gains strength from the thousands of shoulders on which we stand. We will do our part. Email us if you want to help.
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
The month of Kislev is the 3rd month counting from Tishrei (fall) and the 9th month counting from Nissan (spring). Kislev is a two-part word כס (Kas) which means ‘lid’ and it is interpreted as “to cover or conceal” and לו “Lo” which in the Gematria, both letters lamed (30)-vav (6) add to 36. These are the total number of Chanukah candles (not counting the Shamash).
Did you know? That Kislev is associated with the letter samech? ס which means “support”. The letter samech,ס is similar to a circle, which has no end and it is infinite, a circle of continuity. Therefore, during the month of Kislev, we are uplifted as the circle also implies giving support to those who have fallen or sick either physically or spiritually.
The attribute of the month is “Sleep”. Why? Because through our sleep we are able to connect with the source of all energy and soul (Ain Sof) the infinite light of G/d is represented with the letter Samech סand our soul is revived through our sleep. The tribe of the month is Benjamin and the limb is the womb. The permutation is from Bereshit (50-11):
וַיַּ֡רְא יוֹשֵׁב֩ הָאָ֨רֶץ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֜י
And when the Canaanites saw.
Rashi asks; what did the Canaanites see?
The Midrash says, the crown of Joseph on Yakov’s coffin
In Kislev we celebrate Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, beginning on the evening preceding 25 Kislev (December 7) and ends 8 days later, which means Kislev departs as the Chanukah lights spread their ever-increasing brightness in the winter dusk. Did you know? there is a relationship between women to the story of Chanukah through the story of Judith as she is the reason why women are permitted to light the Chanukah candles. Judith was the heroine who saved the Jewish people by killing Holofernes, the mighty Syrian-Greek General.
May Kislev help us all to remove the Kas and become more enlightened, courageous and united amid our current adversity.
On behalf of Women of Holy Blossom and myself, I wish you peace, joy and health this coming holiday season. כן יהי רצון
Teresa Quiroz
Shacharit Service: Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 7:30 am ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09
Password: 667580
For other upcoming dates and why Rosh Chodesh is special for women see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/
The Judaica & Art Shop will now be carrying products by Shoresh. We are super excited about this. Here’s why.
Shoresh is a nature-based Jewish charity, which both aims to be and inspires others to be Shomrei Adamah, protectors of the earth. Founded in 2002 as Torat HaTeva, The Jewish Nature Centre of Canada, Shoresh began by offering hands-on educational programs and hosting an annual Tu B’Shvat Seder. With the help of grants and donations over several years, Shoresh created Kavanah Garden (now run by York Region Food Network), Maxie’s Garden (now called Dawne’s Garden), and Bela Farm; and it developed a range of educational experiences and camp programs for children and adults. Along the way, Shoresh received loads of well-deserved awards and media attention. You can read all about it on their website.
But how does this relate to the Judaica & Art Shop, you may be wondering?
Bela Farm, established in 2013, is Shoresh’s 100-acre rural home for land-based sustainable Judaism. On the site, Shoresh planted 11,000 trees and created an extensive program to protect native pollinators, such as bees. The beekeeping program includes planting flowers, monitoring pollinator counts, working in the apiary, and harvesting honey and beeswax. That honey has deliciously found its way to our shop. We also carry beeswax candles for Shabbat, Chanukah, and Havdallah, made by local artisans partnering with Shoresh, and Shoresh’s naturally dyed challah covers.
This new relationship between The Shop and Shoresh is a win-win. Sabrina Malach, the Director of Community Engagement for Shoresh’s Jewish Environmental Programs, feels the same way.
We are very pleased to partner with the Judaica and Art Shop at Holy Blossom Temple. At Shoresh, we believe that we are better together. Any opportunity to collaborate in meaningful ways is important to us. We are eager to share our earth-friendly Jewish products with the Holy Blossom community and to help community members bring sustainability home, by offering eco-friendly ritual items.
Purchasing Shoresh products supports Holy Blossom Temple and Women of Holy Blossom. It also supports Shoresh, in their efforts to propagate the bee population of Ontario and, by extension, to sustain Ontario’s ecosystems and food systems, all of which uphold the Jewish values of mah rabu ma’asecha, to hold a sense of radical amazement for the natural world; l’ovdah u’l’shomrah, to be responsible stewards of the earth; and tzedek tzedek tirdof, to pursue justice for the earth and its creatures. Sabrina notes, “As a Jewish organization, Shoresh grounds its work in these Jewish teachings and values”.
If this isn’t enough, honey is good for our bodies and delicious. But don’t take our word for it. Try it yourself.
Visit the Judaica & Art Shop, operated by Women of Holy Blossom, for more on the Shoresh products and to get ready for the High Holy Days. Hours and contact information are on our webpage.
Zodiac Sign – Virgo
In Spanish, we know the month of Elul as ‘El ultimo’ meaning the last month of the year and the most sacred. Elul is the sixth month of the Jewish year (counting from Nisan), which immediately precedes Rosh Hashanah. It is traditionally a month of introspection and stocktaking — a time to review one’s deeds and spiritual progress over the past year and prepare for the upcoming “Days of Awe” of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The word “Elul,” aleph, lamed, vav and lamed, are an acronym for the phrase (from the biblical Song of Songs) ani l’dodi v’dodi li, which means “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.”
To uncover the essential meaning of the word Elul we need to analyze the letters that comprise it, their numerical value, their form and their meaning. “Elul” is comprised of an aleph, followed by a lamed, followed by a vav, followed by the final letter, another lamed. The first letter in “Elul” is also the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The letter aleph is numerically equivalent to one, which represents the idea of G‑d’s total unity.
Believing that the “beloved” refers to God, the sages take this verse to describe the particularly loving and close relationship between God and Israel. During Elul, then, is our time to establish this closeness so that we can approach the Yamim Noraim, or Days of Awe, in trusting acceptance of God’s judgment. We approach the trial not out of fear, but out of love. As the month of “Divine Mercy and Forgiveness”, it is a most opportune time for teshuvah (“return” to G-d), prayer, charity, and increased “Ahavat Yisrael” (love for a fellow Jew) in the quest for self-improvement and coming closer to G-d.
Chassidic master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi likens the month of Elul to a time when “the king is in the field” and, in contrast to when he is in the royal palace, “everyone who so desires is permitted to meet him, and he receives them all with a cheerful countenance and shows a smiling face to them all.”
The letter of the month is yud which signifies action. It is the smallest letter in the alphabet alluding to humility. Therefore, the attribute of the month is ACTION. Teshuva is a state of mind but it is not enough without the action. As it is said, we first do and then we will understand. We also need to review our Mitzvot and increase Tzedaka. The limb of the month is the left hand; Tefillin are worn on the left hand.
The permutation of the month hey-hey-vav-yud from Deutoronomy 6:25.
וּצְדָקָ֖ה תִּֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑נוּ כִּֽי־נִשְׁמֹ֨ר לַעֲשׂ֜וֹת אֶת־כׇּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֗את לִפְנֵ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּֽנוּ׃ {ס}
It will be therefore to our merit before our God יהוה to observe faithfully this whole Instruction, as [God] has commanded us.
During the month of Elul each day we strengthen ourselves to become warriors, we aim to be victorious to become a new vessel with G/d’s help. Ken Yehi Ratzon.
“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year” (L”shanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim)
By Teresa Quiroz, on behalf of Women of Holy Blossom
Shacharit Service: Friday, August 18, 2023, 7:30 am ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09
Password: 667580
For other upcoming dates and why Rosh Chodesh is special for women see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/
Av is the 5th month of the year counting from the month of Nissan, the name means ‘Father’. During this month the Jewish people, G/d and Torah become ONE. It is during this month that the destruction of the two temples happened, and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain also took place during this month. The month conjures up a mixture of conflicting moods and the Mishna says: “As AV enters, we diminish joy”. During Av one sees the true love of a Father (G/d) and his unconditional love for his children in spite of his children not following his commandments.
The final Nine Days of Tisha B’AV and the Three Weeks are a time of intensified mourning. There are times when we’re told to be sad and this period is one of several during the year because without these times of sorrow and consolation, our joy would flow falsely and from sorrow, joy will permeate.
The Tribe of the month is Shimon, from the word Shema which attributes to hear, in the previous month of Tammuz Reuben sees. Hearing vs seeing, if you truly want to become ONE with G/d, one has to listen. Listening is greater than Seeing G/d. The limb of the month is the left kidney, signifying emotion.
The permutation of the month of Av: (ה.ו.י.ה) appears in the word הוֹיָ֗ה describes in Exodus 9:3 the plague of pestilence.
The letters begin reversed (ה.ו) but end in order (י.ה). This indicates that while the judgment over the first half of the month is harsh and strict, the month concludes with Divine mercy. In fact, the letters ‘yud’ and ‘heh’ are not only “in order” and connote mercy; their numerical equivalent is 15. This reveals that the second half of G-d’s name for this month literally correlates to the last 15 days of Av and corresponds to the teaching of the Talmud which states (Ta’anit 26b), “There are no greater days for the People of Israel like the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur”. The 15 of AV is known as one of the happiest days in Jewish history, Tu B’Av, signifies rebirth after destruction and is a day for new beginnings. The Talmud considers it the greatest festival of the year, followed by Yom Kippur, as its essence represents the future redemption.
The letter of the month is Tet, which appears first in the Torah on the word “Tov” (Good) mentioned during the creation G/d says: “it was good”. Tet has a numerical value of 9 for Tisha B’Av which is a day of mourning.
Where do we get the Tov? From the first two letters of Tov; Tet-Vav have a value of 15. The 15th of Av (as stated above) is a day of rejoicing. This demonstrates that one has the ability to transform, rebuild and arise from ashes.
An old Chassidic proverb goes, “Sadness is not a sin, but its effect on the person is worse than any sins.” The soul was sent to this world not to be, but to do; not to merely exist, but to achieve. To retreat into the self is to reverse the flow of life. Joy is revelation.
Ken YehiRatzon,
Teresa Quiroz – On behalf of Women of Holy Blossom
Rosh Chodesh Av: Shacharit Service, Wednesday, July 19, 7:30 am ET, in-person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93902401402?pwd=dGlOR2dEcGs1RVc0OVFwdkFtOVo5UT09
Password: 667580
For more dates and the connection to women see https://holyblossom.org/rosh-chodesh/
1950 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5P 3K9
(416) 789-3291
[email protected]
Emergency Funeral Contact
Cell: 416-565-7561