continued from page 10

jews d
in 
the

For example, when a sex therapist 
spoke to one of The Well groups, the 
women were comfortable discussing 
intimate topics. 
Rosh Chodesh group members gen-
erally look at the coming month and 
pick topics relatable to women. So, 
around the month of Nissan, when 
Passover occurs, talks with themes of 
freedom are typical. In Tishrei, when 
the High Holidays fall, repentance 
and redemption are popular. 

CHANCE FOR RENEWAL
Each fall, Adat Shalom holds its kick-
off event. Then, throughout the year, 
Rabbi Rachel Shere leads five Rosh 
Chodesh study sessions that are free 
and open to the community. 
“It’
s an opportunity for renewal 
and readjusting your perspective,” 
said Rochelle Lieberman, who chairs 
the events. “Rabbi Shere does an 
incredible job of pulling together 
ancient texts and current situations 
for a meaningful and spiritual con-
versation.”
Lieberman estimates an average of 
25 women attend each session with 
some “regulars” participating and 
others coming when they can. 
When the Downtown Synagogue 
didn’
t have a rabbi, Dorit Edut, a 
pluralistic rabbi, volunteered to help 
the congregation. It was then that she 
and congregant Sydney Skully started 
gathering women to meet for Rosh 
Chodesh. 
While no longer affiliated with the 
synagogue, the group continues to 
gather monthly. It has a participant 
list of approximately 25 women, rang-
ing in age from late 30s to early 70s. 

Typically, 10 to 15 women attend each 
month, rotating homes and picking 
topics a few months in advance. 
Past discussions have included 
women in the Bible, modern wom-
en’
s issues and women in Jewish art, 
which including a visit to the Detroit 
Institute of Arts. 
Before delving into the monthly 
topic, each meeting begins with 
lighting candles and saying a blessing 
over the yuntif, according to Edut, a 
resident of Huntington Woods. They 
are also sure to have a goblet filled 
with water to signify Miriam’
s cup. 
This is done because, according to 
Midrash, Miriam was associated with 
finding wells in the desert and when 
she died, the water was said to have 
disappeared. The group also reads 
from The Jewish Book of Days, a 
work by Rabbi Jill Hammer, contain-
ing passages for each corresponding 
day of the Hebrew calendar. 
“Often we add our own intentions or 
hopes and wishes for that month. And, 
then, of course, we eat,
” Edut said. ■

 

Adat Shalom will host a Rosh Chodesh 

event to welcome the month of Sivan 

with Torah study, prayer and light refresh-

ments from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 4. 

For details, contact Rochelle Lieberman at 

Rochelle.r.lieberman@gmail.com. 

For information about The Well’
s 

Rosh Chodesh Circles, contact Marisa 

Meyerson at marisa@meetyouatthewell.

org. To learn more about The Shul’
s Rosh 

Chodesh Society, contact Itty Shemtov at 

itty@theshul.net. For details about Rabbi 

Dorit Edut’
s group, contact her at 

mutzim@aol.com or (248) 556-6316.

At a Rosh Chodesh group started by Rabbi Dorit Edut, some of the women learned how to wrap 

head coverings in various ways from some invited experts.

DORIT EDUT

12 May 16 • 2019
jn

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE 
Spot
l
i
ght
 
Ev
ent

Chairs – Diane and Randy Orley

AN EVENING WITH LIZA LONG, 
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE 
AND AUTHOR

The Price of Silence
Long
A Mom’
s Perspective
 on Mental Illness

The Price 

of Silence

Liza Long

Foreword by 

Harold S. Koplewicz, MD

A Mom’
s Perspective 

on Mental Illness

“A courageous, determined, radical book.” 

—ANDREW SOLOMON, PhD, author of 

The Noonday Demon and Far from the Tree

PLUME

” 

6:30 PM REGISTRATION | 7 PM PROGRAM

CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK 

WEDNESDAY 
MAY 29 
2019

Admission $36/ 2 for $60/ Students $10

After the 2012 Newtown school 
shooting, Liza wondered if her 
son, who has bipolar disorder, 
was capable of committing a 
similar act in her blog post, 
“I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother.” 
Don’t miss Long’s moving 
story of helping her son and 
fighting stigma.

To register or sponsor, visit jfsspotlightevent.org 

SHINING A LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY

Book signing to follow the event with books available for purchase. 
One social work CEU available. 

