Berakhot 49
Who sanctifies Israel, who sanctify the New Moons.”
Rabbi Akiva appears in today’s text and as always, brings a dose of practicality to the discussion. After the extended discussion on what blessings to say according to the size of the crowd – ten, one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand – sensible Rabbi Akiva steps in and halts the increasingly complex analysis by proclaiming that there is no distinctions based on the size of the crowd as long as a quorum of ten is present: “when there are many and when there are few, as long as there is a quorum of ten.” He appears to put to rest the ever-escalating discussion which includes the mention of cherubs in perspective, as he has done elsewhere in our readings.
We are introduced to a new Rabbi, Rav Abba ben Ivu, who is quoted by Rabbi Zeira (who was previously referred to as “the little man with scorched legs.”) He was so well-known that he was simply called Rav or The Master and was credited with establishing a school of learning in Iraq that the Koren Talmud says rivaled academies in Israel. When people referred to the Rav, they knew it was him (like the one-name superstars we have today.)
What resonated with me the most in today’s reading is the attention to a blessing that includes appreciation of the new moon: “Who sanctifies Israel, who sanctify the New Moons.” The new moon is often eclipsed (pun intended) by the much sexier full moon, which illuminates the sky. I have written poems about the full moon, but have never fully considered the new moon before, which in its darkness can appear unknowable. But today’s reading provided me with a fresh understanding of the importance of the new moon.
There is so much promise in the new moon’s blankness, which symbolizes renewal and the opportunity to start fresh during a new cycle of activity. It reflects the rhythm of life, which is from renewal to renewal, new moon to new moon. Its darkness is unknowable because the next days of our lives are unknowable, but we can influence them.
I don’t formally pray, but I think it would be valuable time spent to take a quiet moment at the beginning of each lunar cycle to consider how I can improve my life over the coming weeks. It would have been perfect if today’s reading coincided with a new moon, but rather we are in a waning phase. The next new moon is a few days away and will occur on February 23rd.
I love Marge Piercy’s poetry. Here is a link to one of her poems about the new moon: At The New Moon: Rosh Hodesh