Rosh Chodesh Society: One Wow Moment

How do we empower ourselves to make courageous and meaningful decisions?

Our new Rosh Chodesh Society’s course, One Wow Moment, takes a scholarly peek at pivotal moments of personal decision within the lives of seven women of biblical fame, and investigates the psychology and internal strengths that propelled these women, with remarkable effectiveness, across chasms of doubt and timidity.

Recognizing that modern life rears a rapid series of crossroads bearing mixed signals, this course is a valuable and intriguing guide to exerting confidence, courage, empowerment, altruism, and deeper purpose when faced with unexpected opportunity, personal dilemmas, and moments of consequential decision.

Rosh Chodesh Society classes take place on Shabbat mornings from 10:30 - 11:30 am at Congregation Beth Tefillah. A light brunch will be served. Classes are taught by a rotating cast of educators from our community.

Shabbat, November 18
With Mrs. Dassie New
Lesson 1: Sarah
Two Views of You: Overcoming Inclination via an External Perspective

Navigating life can be tricky, and a moral and a spiritual life-even trickier. All humans suffer from unconscious bias; we can be too close emotionally to our internal trees to see our forest with full objectivity. An episode in the life of our Matriarch Sarah reveals that this is a struggle for even the best and brightest individuals. Sarah informs us that what we are certain is right and noble might actually be unsound and unsafe for the particular dilemma we face. This lesson analyzes a puzzling slice of Sarah's story to reveal a literally G-d-sent solution.

Shabbat, December 9
Mrs. Mushka Kesselman
Lesson 2: Rivkah
Desirable Duplicity: Being Jewish in All of Life’s Roles

It's every spiritual seeker's impasse: We want to live meaningful, soulinspired lives, but we cannot survive without meeting our material needsand those tend to swallow our time and focus. Rivkah saw an unbridgeable fissure between untethered spirituality versus untamed materiality playing out in the lives of her twins. With incredible insight and courage, she invented a solution just in time to avert disaster. This lesson explores her dilemma and solution, and presents Rivkah as a motherly guide for our own lives.

Shabbat, January 6
Mrs. Leah Sollish
Lesson 3: Rachel
Mother of Devotion: The Limits of Sacrifice

Infants arrive in this world primed to receive, not to make sacrifices on behalf of others—and the extent to which individuals outgrow that mindset varies widely. Does Judaism expect us to make personal sacrifices to benefit others, and if so, to what degree? This lesson analyzes the fascinating life of our Matriarch Rachel—referred to lovingly for millennia as our collective "mother"—for inspiration and guidance on the value of acting altruistically.

Shabbat, February 10
Dr. Pam Mason
Lesson 4: Avigayil
Affection in Direction: Rebuking with Love and Respect

Being advised that we are acting incorrectly is an inescapable feature of life-as is the reality that we will have occasion to inform others of a wrong they are committing. This lesson probes the dramatic story of Avigayil, a brave and wise woman who rebuked an angry king on his way to battle and prevented disaster. Her approach reveals a profound and empathetic motivation that should underline any rebuke, and spills Judaism's secret of successful intervention and redirection.

Shabbat, March 9
Mrs. Chayala Markovits
Lesson 5: Esther
Resource-fullness: Using Every Resource for G-d’s Purpose

Each human owns resources: talent or time, funds or friendship, position or personality, significant supplies or simply a smile. Are they truly ours? Which of them does Judaism expect us to devote to a higher purpose, and to what extent? This lesson consults Queen Esther for advice from her personal experiences in the Persian palace. Her answers are transformative, and guide us toward a comprehensively meaningful existence.

Shabbat, April 6
Mrs. Chanky Freedman
Lesson 6: Batyah
Against the Tide: Acting Morally in an Immoral Society

Cohesiveness, community, conformity. Judaism promotes these as sacred values with enormous benefits, but not if they lead to morally repugnant results. It can be incredibly difficult to recognize the pull and resist the pressure of peers and surrounding society; swimming against the tide can be draining. A solution to this common quandary was born in an unlikely place: the palace of the pharaohs. This lesson analyzes a moment in the life of heroic Princess Batyah that provides us with tangible tools for handling such pressure.

Shabbat, May 4
Mrs. Nomi Freeman
Lesson 7: Ruth
Stepping Up: Opting for Tough but True

Are we supposed to squeeze life for the maximum pleasure and convenience? Is there anything wrong with selecting the easiest, least burdensome path at each personal crossroad? This lesson examines the story of Ruth, a former Moabite princess who voluntarily became a destitute Jewess. Ruth teaches us the huge advantage of shouldering instead of shirking responsibility; of choosing covenant over convenience and eternal over easy. Ruth unveils our true self-worth and guides us toward unexpected power.