Today is the 11 of Cheshvan, and it is the historical Yartzhiet of Rachel Imeinu (Rachel the Matriarch). I don’t have a new ritual for this year, so forgive the reposting of the one I posted a couple of years ago. This ritual can be used to honor Rachel Imeinu or any ancestor. This is a simple solitary ritual, which can easily be adapted for a group. If you are interested in exploring a ritual specifically developed for a group, see Ceremony for the 11th of Cheshvan by Rabbi Jill Hammer.
Photo Credit: New Jewish fruit in Kibbutz Matzuva
Copyrights: Max Nathans 2007
Ritual for Remembering Rachel Imeinu
Originally posted on 11.05.2005 / 9th of Cheshvan 5766
May the blessings of our mother be carried through to each generation.
Needs:
1 Pomegranate
1 Tea Light
Small stones to represent specific ancestors
Small dish (big enough to hold all items listed above)
How to Peel a Pomegranate
Take the pomegranate and cut of the crown, being careful to not cut into seeds. Score the rind from crown to base into 6 sections. Place pomegranate in large bowl filled with cold water. The pomegranate should float upright. If you like, spin the pomegranate in the water and focus on it while meditating. Leave the pomegranate in the water for 5-10 minutes. Then peel of the rind and let the seed drop to the bottom. You can then skim the rind off the top and drain the water, leaving just the
seeds.
Place your tealight in the dish and pour the pomegranate seeds around it. I often use only half of the seeds. Place your stones either along the edge of the dish or inside it against the tealight, whatever works for you. Place the dish on the altar and light your candle. The seeds are for the generations of ancestors, the stones for those you wish to specifically honor.
Recite Kaddish and poems or prayers that speak to the spirit of Rachel Imeinu.
Here are several poems, prayers, and resources you might like to use:
When the ritual is over be sure to dispose of the pomegranate seed properly. Burn them in the fire or throw them to the earth. Do not eat them casually. If you choose to dispose of them by ingesting them, it should be a deliberate act by which you share yourself with the generations.
Names are big deal in both Judaism and Paganism. Names are so important in Judaism that we even call God, “The Name.” (השם) In both of my spiritual communities I stand out as a bit of an oddity because I don’t have a “name.” I’m just Carly.
Now you are probably reading this asking, “what about Chava Chai (חוה חי)?” Right, well — actually — write. I only use that name in writing. It’s me when I’m writing words on paper, but not when I’m standing next to you. Only once has that name been used for me aloud and I felt like it was mine. There was a time that even though no one called me by a special name, I had one for myself and would use it in ritual environments. Years ago I was asked in a ritual, “what is your name in this place?” The answer came quickly and easily, and it wasn’t Carly.
This past week, I was at the second week of Kohenet intensive training. Someone pointed out that I have a problem with my name. I disagreed, but then it was pointed out that I didn’t even put it on my calling cards. I had “Peeling a Pomegranate” and the URL — but not my name. Now when I made the cards, my focus was on the site — not me personally — but isn’t that odd?
When I got home I started to talk it over with my husband and he pointed out that I’ve always had an issue with how little thought was put into naming me. My parents have always told me that my name was picked out of a book on the way to the hospital. I was supposed to be a boy — they picked the name at the last minute, “just in case.” My parents didn’t give me a Hebrew name either, my older sister was given one — but I guess they just didn’t bother with me. I picked my own Hebrew name when I started Hebrew school — Carmeit. I named myself after the most beautiful woman who was a cousin to an exchange student who lived with me when I was five or six years old. She died a couple of years later. She was the first person I cared about who died — so I chose her name.
That name while holding nostalgia, lost meaning over the years. That’s why I took on Chava Chai (חוה חי) about four years ago, but no one actually calls me that. I think the problem is that I’m tired of naming myself. I actually want someone to care enough to name me this time. I think the name will come either at the first or second Kohenet initiation. I see my future self so intricately tied to being a Kohenet that the name will come as part of this experience. I do know one thing though — I won’t be naming myself again. Maybe I’ll grow into Chava Chai (חוה חי), maybe I’ll grow into something/one else. The name will come, but not from me. Whether it’s from human lips or Divine emanation that rings in my ears, I can live with either. I just can’t name myself again.
Technorati Tags: names, naming, kohenet, initiation
Since I know I won’t be able to finish a new edition of the Jewitch Calendar for 2007, I’m really happy to be able to share this with you! I stumbled across the Ecological Calendar at one of my favorite little shops in Takoma Park. I bought a copy as a gift for a friend, but then I realized it’s a great foundation for an Earth-based Judaism calendar. I usually just use my trusty Palm Pilot, but I think this year I’m going add this paper calendar to my life as a journal.
The weekly planner calendar has big colorful panels that show you what’s happening in the natural world each week. It’s a great way to connect the passage of time on a calendar to the cycles of the seasons. Each panel starts in the heavens and shows you the stars and then moves down to the solar and lunar cycles, the tides, and the earth. Now – just image seeing all that and the Jewish holidays on the same page! You can see lots of pictures at www.ecocalendar.info.
So join me in this DIY experiment and tell me how it works for you. You can get a customized calendar of Jewish holidays including weekly parshat and candle lighting times (customized by where you live) at www.hebcal.com.
And yes, I noticed it’s published by Pomegranate. That’s just a coincidence…or is it? 
Technorati Tags: jewish calendar, jewitch calendar, earth-based judaism, ecological calendar
After reading the amazing “ritual fantasy” on Telshemesh.org and some other great writings about Miriam the prophetess. I am compelled to call out the anniversary of her death.
I think tonight I will go home and light some floating candles in water for her. It seems appropriate.
“The Israelites came, the whole community, to the wilderness of Tzin, on the first new moon. Miriam died there and was buried there. The community was without water, and they joined against Moses and Aaron.” Numbers 20:1-2
“There were three good shepherds in Israel: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Because of them, Israel received three gifts: the manna because of Moses, the well because of Miriam, and the clouds of glory because of Aaron. When Miriam died the well dried up…” Song of Songs Rabbah 4:14
As we say in Becoming, when we honor water in the world, “May you never thirst.”
I have been wanting to write a mourner’s kadish that would serve myself and other earth-based magickal Jews. I’ve found it difficult because I wanted to keep the core theology of the traditional, rabbinical Judaic prayer. That one is a prayer for the living. It focuses on praising God. It doesn’t really ever touch on loss or death. When I first discovered this, I found it disturbing. But, if you look at almost all the Jewish rituals surrounding death, they are to support the living. They are to help the living move on with their lives.
It seems that it took the loss of Rosemary Kooiman to give me the words.
Send me on
Send me on with love in your heart
Cry tears of joy for the life I have lived
Praise the Source of Life for connecting our lives
Send me on to the next life
Send me on the way I lived
Embrace what I was, not the space that I leave
Praise the Source of Life for allowing us to love
Send me on to the next life
Send me on without fear
Do not curse or rend your garments
Praise the Source of Life for granting us time
Send me on to the next life
Send me on with praise
Sing songs of joy for all Creation
Praise the Source of Life giving us life
Send me on to the next life
Send me on with libations and toasts
Drink to your health and drink to life
Praise the Source of Life for giving us words to share
Send me on to the next life
Send me on with stones not flowers
Do not add death to death
Praise the Source of Life for all creation
Send me on to the next life
© Carly Lesser - 2006
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike2.5 License.
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