Rosh Chodesh - Tishrei

The constellation, or mazal, for Tishrei is a pair of scales, symbolizing God's judgment of individuals and the world during the High Holy Days.

Tishrei is not observed traditionally as Rosh Chodesh. Because Rosh HaShanah, the birthday of the world, falls on the first of Tishrei, observing the New Year takes precedence. Tishrei is a month of beginnings. The new moon of Tishrei is celebrated as the birthday of the world. It is the month which marks the beginning of a new year. It is a time in which we need strength (to get through all of the holidays, especially Yom Kippur which entails a full day fast) and a time when our strength, especially our spiritual strength, is renewed.

A Rosh Chodesh group may choose to observe Rosh HaShanah together, or meet for tashlich during the afternoon. Tashlich is a short service where we rid ourselves of the year's bad feelings and doings. We meet at a source of water (ocean, river, etc.) and throw crumbs of bread into the water as we recall moments and deeds during the year for which we seek forgiveness.

Water songs and dances (such as "U'Shavtem Mayim," "Down by the Riverside,") may culminate this observance.
Another wonderful custom is to gather on Sukkot, which falls on Tishrei's full moon. Meet outdoors in a sukkah and ask each woman present to invite (metaphorically) a beloved woman or mentor into the sukkah. These guests, known as Ushpizin, can be drawn from one's personal history or from our collective Jewish sources. Share the stories of these "invited guests'" with the group and the reasons for choosing these Ushpizin. Sukkot, the fall harvest, is a time to contemplate our own personal harvest. The sukkah is an open and fragile dwelling place. It reminds us of the fragility of our earth home and bids us to open ourselves towards the four directions in which we shake the lulav, symbol of Sukkot.
There are four holy days in Tishrei which correspond to the four phases of the moon.1 These are: Rosh HaShanah which is the new moon of Tishrei; Yom Kippur which falls on the tenth of the month, as the moon swells; Sukkot which is on the full moon; and Shmini Atzeret which falls on the twenty-second of Tishrei when the moon is waning.

As Tishrei is the beginning of the new year, imagine taking out a road map of life - draw one if you can. Reflecting on last year, name the mountain peaks and valleys, the rivers, bridges and canyons. For this approaching year, what new directions shall you take? Where might you be going and what motivates you to get there? Where will you travel in your heart and where by foot?