The Gift and Blessing of the Month of Tammuz

Rosh Chodesh, ‘the head of the month’ signifies the day or days which herald in every new month. It has traditionally been considered a festival for women - a day of reward and recognition for the fact that the women did not partake in the sin of the golden calf, which took place on the 17th of Tammuz. The women, in fact, refused to relinquish their jewellery when they were pressured to contribute to the creation of the golden calf.

Every month comes with a bounty of light, blessings and challenges that are its specific gift. Looking at the month of Tammuz we see it as a month of contrasts. On the one hand we have the three weeks beginning on the 17th day of Tammuz and culminating in Tisha b’Av. This is a time of sadness, of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple, the Beit HaMikdash. It is the beginning of the exile in which we currently find ourselves.

It is also considered a month of redemption and freedom just like the month of Nissan was when the Jews were redeemed from Egypt on Pesach. Fifty days later the next milestone of our becoming a nation took place in the month of Sivan, the revelation of the light of Torah guiding us to this very day. All was in place for Tammuz to be the next highlight with Moses returning from Mount Sinai with the 10 Commandments etched in sapphire stone on the 17th day of Tammuz. 

However, the Jews got anxious, miscalculated by 6 hours, and in their panic could not wait for Moshe’s return. They reverted back to the idol worshiping days in Egypt and fashioned a golden calf to replace Moses, thus depriving Tammuz of its inherent greatness. 

The women, as we just learnt, would have no part of this fall from grace, remaining rational and strong in their faith. To this day, on Rosh Chodesh, as the new moon appears, women are acknowledged, recognised and appreciated for their strength and resilience. Like the moon we go with the flow, work with what we have and make the best of every situation. The essential nature of the moon is one of transformation. It is also an essential quality of the feminine, and thus of Jewish women.

power of transformation is what can restore Tammuz to its greatness which G-d had planted within it. Recognising this is the gift and blessing of the month of Tammuz. No matter how low we have fallen, or how unfair our challenges are, restoration and renewal are within our reach.

What can we do to activate the ability to transform and restore?

By connecting to Torah and Mitzvot and drawing on our deep faith as characterised by Tammuz, we, as Jewish women, embodying the feminine, have been given the capacity to be able to transform this world of exile into a redeemed world where G-dliness will be perceived by all.

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Our candle lighting whatsapp group has now been transformed to a weekly broadcast. Whether you were one of the 250 women who were receiving the candle lighting times for Sydney and Melbourne, the inspirational messages and the names to pray for at candle lighting as part of our whatsapp group, or you are a newcomer to this concept - we would like to connect with you.  Candle lighting time is an auspicious time for women's prayers and we’d like to facilitate this meaningful connection to women in all parts of the world. 

Here’s what to do:

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In this way may we help bring healing and light to our world through our connections and prayers.

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