Rosh Chodesh Tevet and The Festival of the Daughters

We hear so much about Judah Maccabbee this time of year, but what about Judith? Did you know that in North African countries Jewish women celebrate the seventh night of Chanukah as Chag haBanot, or the Festival of the Daughters? Judith's night, which falls on the new moon of the Hebrew month of Tevet, was set aside to celebrate the new month and the heroine of the Book of Judith, who single-handedly saved her people by killing an enemy general. Although we do not know much about this holiday today, we do know that Judith frequently was depicted on medieval menorahs, as she represents female heroes throughout Jewish history.

This means that this month Rosh Chodesh is extra special since we have an entire Festival of Daughters to celebrate! For those of you who aren't familiar with Rosh Chodesh, it is the celebration of the beginning of each month in the Jewish lunar calendar, and has typically been observed as a celebration of women and femininity. There are several stories about how this came to be, one of which suggests that Rosh Chodesh was given to women as a reward for their refusal to worship a gold idol while Moses was receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. According to Ritualwell.org, women were rewarded with the holiday for their independance and wisdom. During the Feminist Movement in the 1960's, Jewish women reinvigorated the holiday with new ideas as to how to celebrate the new month together.

As for Chag haBanot, traditionally, women from countries such as Algeria and Morocco celebrated the festival by visiting synagogues and praying for the health of their daughters, passing down inheritances and exchanging gifts, and singing and dancing. If women were arguing with a loved one, they were expected to settle the disagreement during Chag haBanot. Some women even celebrated the festival with a feast in which they served salty cheese to remind them of Judith's bravery (Judith encouraged the enemy general to eat salty cheese, so he would drink wine, so she could kill him once he passed out.) Today, there are many different ways women can celebrate the Festival of the Daughters - see this week's Spa Treatments below for some ideas.

I am fortunate that this holiday falls at a time when I had already planned to visit two of my best girl friends in Brooklyn. (Hanukkah is the celebration of oil lasting for eight days - this photo is the celebration of these jeans lasting for four straight weeks of constant wear when we were 15-years-old at summer camp). The three of us have been friends since we were teenagers, and I've always felt that with them, I could conquer the world. They are truly modern-day heroines that I'm fortunate to have in my life. And if our past girls-only weekends are any indication, we will definitely be doing some singing (most likely to the Indigo Girls, or James Taylor); we don't argue frequently, but if there are any disputes over which movie to watch or which spa treatment to choose I'm sure we can settle them. And we didn't plan on eating any salty cheese, but we will definitely be drinking wine! We'll have to have a drink for Judith, a fearless female whose courage we should all emulate.

Treatment of the Week: Celebrate Chag haBanot!

1) As suggested on Ritualwell.org, hold a special candle-lighting ceremony on the seventh night of Chanukah. Light one candle to honor Judith and other Jewish heroines throughout history; one for the female heroes you admire; one for your female teachers or spiritual leaders; one for your mothers and grandmothers; one for Jewish girls; one for your family; and one in in honor of the Shekhinah, the presence of G-d that is in every person, according to Jewish mystical tradition. (The Shekhinah is typically depicted as female).

2) Call, email or visit at least a few of the women above, or schedule some quality time to spend together.

3) Participate in one of the traditional celebrations of Chag haBanot by mending ties with a girlfriend, passing something treasured down to your daughter or neice, or giving a "just because" gift to someone you love.

4) Use Chag haBanot as a time to be thankful for the health of your female family and friends. Go to a spa together, take a walk, or cook a healthy dinner together.

Question of the Week: What are you and your female family and friends going to do to celebrate Rosh Chodesh and the Festival of Daughters this month?

An apple a day

Good news for those of us who are kosher - According to Mintel, a global consumer market research company, kosher is the most frequently used claim on food and beverage products that have been launched in 2008. There were 5,389 new kosher products launched this year, leading the list of top ten claims for new food and beverage products, followed by "all-natural," and "no additives/preservatives."

Why? Another report Mintel released earlier this year suggests that the popularity of kosher products is not necessarily because of religion, but because consumers of all different backgrounds trust kosher foods. They perceive them to be safer and can rely on their clearly-marked list of ingredients. It makes sense - for those of us who are lactose-intolerant, vegetarian, or just want to know what is in the products we're consuming, kosher labels make it easy. According to an article in Food Navigator, 4,477 new kosher-certified processed food products were launched in the US in 2007, compared to 1,491 in 2005 and 399 in 2003. I guess it's just one of those things we've had right all along that's just starting to catch on.

Although Judaism has many things right when it comes to wellness, I don't think Hanukkah is one of them. Let's face it - the only thing I can think of that's worse for you than potatoes fried in oil is possibly what's known as soofganiyot in Israel - donuts covered in sugar and jelly...you guessed it...fried in oil! But there is one overlooked side dish we can turn to when Hanukkah is looking anything but healthy - applesauce. Apples are a rich source of dietary fiber, and studies have shown that apples may even help lower blood cholesterol levels. This weekend I made homemade applesauce that was as easy as it was delicious. I kept the skin of the apples on, which meant that there was no peeling involved and the end result was an apple sauce full of the nutrients that are often cut out when the skin is removed. I added some pears to the mix for tartness and flavor.

B'Teavon, and Happy Hanukkah!

Treatment of the Week: Make applesauce.

8 cups coarsely chopped Fuji apples (about 2.5 pounds)

2 cups coarsely chopped Barltet pears

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup apple cider

Combine all of the ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until the apples are soft. Stir occassionally. Drain the apple cider from the sauce and mash the apples sporadically with a large fork.

Question of the Week: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. What else are you doing this week to keep the doctor away?

And on the seventh day G-d...ran errands?

"Vayechulu hashamayim v’ha-aretz…The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their array. On the seventh day God finished His work that He was doing, and He stopped on the seventh day from all the work that He had done. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it God stopped from all the work of creation that He had done."

So after G-d was done with everything - he was finished with the animals, with Adam and Eve...he had gotten the lights situated and the water was up and running...he didn't then go and do all of the little things he had put off while he was so busy creating the world? He didn't call a friend and say, "You know, I really thought it would take seven days, but it only took six, so I'm going to get up early tomorrow and run some errands and thought you might want to come..."

And with all of the things he created, he didn't start questioning himself? He wasn't thinking, "the darkness seemed like a good idea at first, but now I'm thinking it's kind of extreme..."

That really is a miracle! Because this is what I do. The minute my week is over is exactly when I start questioning things. I think, "maybe I should not have pushed back as much during that meeting," or "maybe I could have worked a few hours longer." And then, I don't rest...no, I then go and do everything I didn't have time to do while I was trying to finish my week.

I am an overachiever. The more I do, the more there is to be done. I return one phone call and then try to squeeze in another. I check my email in the evening and then start working on what can wait until tomorrow. I set a goal in my head, knowing that I won't truly be satisfied until I've surpassed it entirely. At some point, it's just time to relax.

"And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it God stopped from all the work of creation that He had done."

Yes, that is what I'll do tonight. I'll stop. I won't get up during commercial breaks and fold laundry...I won't then go do another load...no. I will rest. Maybe not for an entire day, but at least for a night, or for a few hours, I will rest.

I will start my first week on my journey to leverage my Judaism to thrive by staying in my warm, cozy apartment and looking out the window as the car and street lights sparkle on this cold, winter night. After all, I'm commanded to, right?

Treatment of the Week: Relax

Sit on the floor with your back straight against the wall. Rest your hands comfortably on your legs, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. Repeat, thinking about the things that make you relax. Repeat until you know what you need to do tonight, or this week, to slow down.

Question of the Week: What are you going to do this week to relax?

Welcome to the Sabra Spa!

Before pomegranates were touted as "superfruits," olive oil was dubbed "heart-healthy," and Mediterranean sea salt was the key ingredient in exfoliating scrubs, women were using these Israeli resources to maintain their beauty and wellness.

For thousands of years these natural resources, the lunar calendar, Kabbalah, and other elements of Jewish culture have been central to women's femininity and personal sustainability. Well, everything old is new again! Although these methods have never been more on trend, many busy, modern Jewish women forget that we need to look no further than our roots to help us find balance in our daily lives. This site is designed to take us back to basics, and give us a place to come together to share old and new wellness practices.

Think of this as a virtual spa. I hope that women around the world are able to learn from my adventures as I chronicle my journey to thrive and connect with my Judaism, one Shabbat at a time.