This is an archive of prayers and ritual activities prepared for, or relevant to, Rosh haShanah la-Behemah, the Jewish New Year's Day for [primarily, Domesticated] Animals (Behemot), celebrated on Alef b'Elul, the first day of the month of Elul in the Jewish calendar. The day is one of the four New Year's day festivals (Rosh Hashanot) in the Jewish calendar as explained in the Mishnah (Seder Moed Rosh Hashanah 1:1). During the Second Temple period, this was a day on which shepherds determined which of their mature animals were to be tithed for offerings. The day coincides with Rosh Ḥodesh Elul, exactly one month before Rosh Hashanah. Beginning in 2009, the festival began to be revived by Jewish animal protection advocates and environmental educators to raise awareness of the mitsvah of tsar baalei ḥayim (obligating not causing undue suffering of any living creature), the source texts informing Jewish ethical relationships with domesticated animals, and the lived experience of animals impacted by human needs, especially in the industrial meat industry. Click here to contribute your own prayers, song, or resource for an activity or ritual for Rosh haShanah la-Behemah! Filter resources by Name Filter resources by Tag Filter resources by Category Filter resources by Language Filter resources by Date Range
The 8th psalm of the book of Psalms in Masoretic Hebrew accompanied by an English translation. Categories: Tags: Contributor(s): Rabbi Seidenberg’s Prayer for the Earth is focused on global climate disruption (aka “global warming”), healing the skies, and the original blessing of creation. The liturgy is closely based upon the sun-blessing liturgy we used April 8th 2009. It is partly based on the Sefaradi liturgy for the Ushpizin on Sukkot, and on “Pri Ets Hadar” (The Fruit of the Majestic Tree) — the first ever Tu biShvat seder, included in the 17th century mystical work, Ḥemdat Yamim (ed. Rabeinu Yakov Ben Yom Tov Algazi). The prayer was first posted at neohasid.org, here. The prayer is based on the Pri Ets Hadar, Birkat Hachodesh, Sefaradi liturgy for Sukkot, and Malakhi 4, Genesis 9:14; Psalms 36, 78, 146; Deuteronomy 32:11, 11:12. Categories: Tags: Contributor(s): Domesticated animals (behemot) are distinguished from ḥayot, wild animals in having been bred to rely upon human beings for their welfare. As the livelihood and continued existence of wild animals increasingly depends on the energy, food, and land use decisions of human beings, the responsibility for their care is coming into the purview of our religious responsibilities as Jews under the mitsvah of tsa’ar baalei ḥayyim — mindfullness of the suffering of all living creatures in our decisions and behavior. Rosh haShanah la-Behemah is the festival where we are reminded of this important mitsvah at the onset of the month in which we imagine ourselves to be the flock of a god upon whose welfare we rely. The “Council of All Beings” is an activity that can help us understand and reflect upon the needs of the flock of creatures that already rely upon us for their welfare. Categories: Tags: Contributor(s): Categories: Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., crawling things, English vernacular prayer, first person, four worlds, Fourth Day of Creation, insects, neo-lurianic, New York City, North America, Prayers as poems Contributor(s): The text of this ritual shofar blowing for Rosh Ḥodesh Elul on Rosh haShanah La-Behemah developed as part of the annual ceremony taking place at the dairy barn on the campus of the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center beginning in 2009 under the auspices of Elat Chayyim Center for Jewish Spirituality and the Adamah Farm & Fellowship. The first Rosh haShanah ritual ceremony was co-developed by Rabbi Jill Hammer and Kohenet Sarah Chandler. My contribution of the kavvanah came a year later in 2010. The text presented here was built upon that ceremony and was presented first at the Hazon Detroit Jewish Food Festival in 2016. Categories: Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., animal protection, animal welfare, בהמות behemot, אלול elul, חשבון הנפש Ḥeshbon HaNefesh, שופר shofar, shofar blowing, the sixth month, צער באלי חיים tsa'ar baalei ḥayyim, זמן תשובה Zman teshuvah Contributor(s): Categories: Tags: Contributor(s): This is a poetic text for Birkat haMazon, signed with an alphabetical acrostic and the name of the author, to be recited on the first of Elul. It celebrates the variety of God’s creation as exemplified by the natural diversity of species, as well as alluding to the livestock tithes traditionally assigned on the first of Elul. Categories: Tags: Contributor(s): An ofan — a liturgical prayer to be inserted into the Shaḥarit qedusha d-yotzer — for the first of Elul, the new year for animals. Not as of yet part of a cycle but who knows, maybe a few other parts will be written in days to come! Categories: Tags: 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., Alef b'Elul, alphabetic mesostic, animals, behemah, בהמות behemot, ofanim, פיוטים piyyuṭim, Rosh Hashanah L'Baalei Ḥayyim, יוצרות yotsrot Contributor(s): |
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