“I’d like some Sprite, or Dr. Pepper if we have it,” said Bea.  Bea could tell that tonight was going to be special.  These women came to have fun.  And there was a real sense of comradery among them.  These women were able to take a joke and laugh at themselves.  And there was very little pretense.  They were who they seemed to be: flaws and all. These gals were letting it all hang out.

Prudence had set up a giant circle of chairs surrounding a fire pit in the backyard.  She also had some torches lit so people could find their way in the dark.  Purity and Bea took a seat between their Grandmother and Aunt Bea.  Prudence continued to flit around from guest to guest.  She wanted to be sure that everyone was well taken care of.  They listened to music, ate, laughed and danced.  Eventually everyone just took off their shoes and danced barefoot in the grass.

It was quite a trip watching these grown women acting so silly.  Even Bea and Purity could not resist getting up and dancing when Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” came on…

https://youtu.be/WHT9qETPkME

Bea and Purity were literally dancing around the fire pit with all these amazing ladies and they could NOT stop laughing.  They felt totally uninhibited and so full of joy!

“This is almost better than the prom,” said Purity.

“I still want to go, though,” said Bea.

“Me too!” replied Purity.

“Ok, Ok!” said Prudence.  “Ladies, tonight is a very special evening.  The new moon will be setting soon and we have not yet done the blessings.

The ladies sat down and got more serious.  Prudence rose from her seat and got out a special bag with beautiful embroidery stitching.  Out of this bag, she pulled a shawl with tassels on all four ends.  She whispered something in Hebrew.  She then kissed either side of shawl and draped it over her shoulders.  In the near darkness, she looked like an angel with wings of light. She pulled out a piece of paper out of her pocket and started to read…

Tonight is the new moon.  In Judaism, this is traditionally a women’s holiday.  The connection between the new moon and women dates back to the times of the Bible. The women refused to participate in the sin of the Golden Calf. They were rewarded with Rosh Chodesh. Rosh Chodesh in Hebrew means ‘Head of the month.’ Different Jewish sources give different explanations for why Rosh Chodesh is a women’s holiday. Some say the similarity between the lunar cycle and women’s menstrual cycle: just as the moon is renewed every month, so too are women renewed every month. Modern writers note other similarities between women and the moon. Robin Zeigler writes, ‘a woman’s body is characterized by cycles of change’ as women go from one stage of life to another: puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, birthing, breast-feeding, and menopause. “Likewise,” she writes, “each month the moon waxes and wanes with a comforting predictability.”

Modern writers further explain that the moon’s phases teach that it is important to welcome periods of rest and retreat, from which one emerges renewed and refreshed. A second lesson of the moon’s phases is to move beyond a linear model of thought and time that often dominates our society. ‘The phases of the moon validate and sanctify women at all ages of our spiritual, emotional and physical lives'” – From Understanding Rosh Chodesh, by Hillel

Purity and Bea did not understand everything their sister was saying, but they knew it was deeply important, not just because she was their sister and she was hosting this party.  Prudence was speaking about why being a woman is sacred.  According to the Bible, women stood up for what was sacred so they were given a sacred holiday to celebrate each month. Every woman goes through the same changes every month. It binds them together in a very physical way, like the tides of the ocean are connected to the phases of the moon.

Next, Prudence passed out little slips of paper.  Together the women recited the Blessing for the New Moon in English.

She finished off her presentation by singing a song… Several times throughout the song, she looked right at Bea and Purity, especially when she was singing in English.

Everyone clapped!  Purity and Bea were very proud of their oldest sister.

“I didn’t know she could sing that well, did you?” asked Purity.

“No!” said Bea. “But something tells me the older we get the more surprises Prudence has in store for us.”

They both laughed.