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Jewish Holidays and Commemorations

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz: (Sundown on /Sun, June 14^th to Sundown on Tues, June 16^th)

Rosh Chodesh means the “head of the month” and lets us know when a new Hebrew month begins. This month of Tammuz is the fourth month of the Hebrew year. Why does this Rosh Chodesh have 2 days? It’s because of the lunar year. Each Hebrew month has 29.5 days. Since we can’t cut a day in half, some Hebrew months have 29 days, and some have 30. When a month has 30 days, like the month of Sivan this year, the 30^th day is marked as Rosh Chodesh along with the first day of the next month.  

• 🧿 Rosh Chodesh Light – there are no festivals in Tammuz so we might be lacking a little light this month. Host a candle making event and focus on the lights in our lives. 
• 🧿 Mood Music – Ask attendees to bring the songs that change their moods and explore how music elevates our moods for the month. Here’s a little background on Jewish music. 
• 🧿 Consider hosting an At the Well Rosh Chodesh Circle.  
• 🧿 Use resources from the Jewish Studio Projects (JSP) to host a Rosh Chodesh art making event. Or join check JSP’s calendar to join their online Rosh Chodesh art making event. 
• 🧿 Host a Kiddush Levana ritual for the sight of the new moon!   

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Torah Portions

Shabbat June 6th: Parashat Beha’a lot’cha] – “When You Go Up” 

This portion puts the Levites in charge of ritual with the Tabernacle, tells them to make a 7-branched lampstand, and talks about how there will be pillars of fire or clouds depending on when the Israelites shall journey, or stay encamped. It also gives instructions for a second Passover, for those who were unable to celebrate Passover the first time. 

• 🧿 Shabbat candle making craft program. Mem Global | Shabbat Candle Making  
• 📖 Moishe House camping trip. Rent some tents and head out to nature to connect to your spiritual side. Talk about signs of God in your life as you sleep under the stars. 
• 🧿 Matzah Brei Morning – It tastes better when it isn’t Passover. Make a big batch of Matzah Brei and learn about Pesach Sheni. Here’s a recipe. 
• 🧿 Didn’t get your yearly viewing of Prince of Egypt? Host a Prince of Egypt Movie night with a meaningful group discussion using this Prince of Egypt movie discussion source sheet! 

Shabbat June 13th: Parashat Sh’lach – “Send” 

As they wandered in the wilderness, scouts were sent to see what the Promised Land was all about. The scouts came back and alarmed the people with reports of how scary it was, calling themselves grasshoppers in the face of the Nephilim (Giants) there. Only Joshua and Caleb gave good news, that it was a land flowing like milk and honey and reassured the people that they could do it.   

• 📖 Milk and honey Shabbat. Feast on all things dairy and sweet as a reminder that we can do hard things while you look at the verses from Torah.  
• 🧿 Go to a local nature center and learn all about the merits of creepy, crawly critters. Here are many of the verses in Torah that contain references to bugs. 
• 📖 Host a tzitzit making event, make talitot or just learn how to tie tzizit and why do it! 
• 🧿📖 Have a spy Shabbat with a Torah themed scavenger hunt! 

Shabbat June 20th: Parashat Korach – “Korach” 

In this portion Korach and his band of rebels (250 of them) waged a rebellion against God and Moses. They were ordered to take fire pans and were ultimately killed by God. After the rebellion, we read of gifts and sacrifices given to the priests and the Levites. 

• 📖 Freedom of speech is being debated around the country. Have a conversation about the limits/guidelines around free speech.  
• 📖 Learn about how to disagree respectfully using the Jewish concept of machloket l’shem shamayim-an argument for the sake of heaven.  Debate for the Sake of Heaven – MH.pdf 

Shabbat June 27th: Parashat Chukat-Balak – “Statute/Balak” 

This is a double portion (happens on years that don’t have 2 months of Adar). Chukat reminds us of purification rituals, including the Red Heifer.(Check out the rituals of the Red Heifer here Red Heifer – MH.docx)  It tells the stories of the deaths of Miriam and Aaron and has the moment when Moses struck the rock twice to bring forth water. Balak contains the story of the Moabite king (Balak) who hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam’s donkey talks in this portion, and Balaam is unable to curse the Israelites and instead blesses them with the words of Mah Tovu.  

• 📖 Mikvah Tour – take a trip to a local mikvah and learn more about this ancient and modern purification source.  
• 🧿 Mah Tovu sing off – see how many melodies your group can come up with. Or depending on your Shabbat observance, play an assortment of melodies or bring in a song leader to get your community singing. Here are some examples of different melodies.   
• 🌱 Host a nonviolent communication workshop inspired by Moses’s error of hitting the rock to bring forth water rather than speaking to it. 
• 🌱 Host a water inspired tikkun olam program with Repair the Sea 
• 🧿📖 Inspired by the talking donkey in this Torah portion host a Shrek movie night and have a discussion about the Jewish themes in the movie. Check out this article “Is Shrek Jewish?!” 
• 📖 Explore the role of blessing in Judaism with this source sheet featuring the six main food blessings. 

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Secular Celebrations and Remembrances

Jun 1^st – 30^th: Pride 

• 🫂 Attend a Pride parade as a Moishe House/Pod 
• 🧿 Make Rainbow colored challah for Shabbat 
• 📖 Host a Queer Jewish Learning event! Check out options here!   
• 🌱 Work with a local or international organization to make our world more LGBTQ+ friendly. Check out these resources from Keshet.  

June 1th: National Olive Day 

• 🧿 Learn about the significance of olives in Judaism while enjoying a olive or olive oil tasting. Contact your JLS for more info!  

June 4^th: National Cheese Day 

• 📖 Use this ready-to-go Wine and Cheese Through a Jewish Lens program!    

June 3rd: World Bicycle Day 

• 🧿 Rent bikes or bring your own and get your community biking. Judaism and the Art of Bicycle Riding – Tablet Magazine 
• 🌱 Find a local bicycle repurposing/recycling shop and volunteer to help refurbish bikes. 

June 5^th: National Doughnut Day 

• 🧿 Doughnut taste-off. Learn about the history of doughnuts (they’re not just for Hanukkah) while you sample from three different places and vote on the favorite. sufganiyot for Hanukkah – MH.pdf.  
• 🧿 Feeling more adventurous? Learn how to fry your own doughnuts.  
• 🧿 Have donuts and crochet your own kippot, a circular ritual object to go with your yummy circular treats!  

June 6th: D-Day, WWII 

• 🌱 Contact your local VA and find different ways to volunteer to support veterans in your area. 

June 7^th: National Trails Day 

• 🧿🌱 Consider taking your community out in nature with Jewishly rooted hike!  

June 10^th – National Herbs and Spices Day 

• 🧿 Explore the Jewish traditions of herbalism with a Jewish Herbalism Happy Hour!  

June 11: National Children’s Day and Making Life Beautiful Day 

• 🌱 Volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters or another local organization that supports children in your area.  
• 📖 Make life beautiful by having a flower arranging, basket making, or craft day. Check out these programs.  

June 12^th: National Red Rose Day 

• 🧿 Host a flower arranging event highlighting the practice of hiddur mitzvah in preparation for Shabbat. 

June 13^th: National Movie Night 

• 🧿 Pick a funny movie, horror movie, or rom com and use one of these source sheets to turn a low-key movie night into a fun Jewish event! 

June 13^th: National Random Acts of Light Day 

• 🌱 A great day for a Tikkun olam event!  

June 14^th: National Cucumber Day 

• 🧿 Host a pickling event and add a Jewish learning element with this source sheet on Pickles and the Jewish People. 

June 15: Smile Power Day 

• 📖 Pirkei Avot teaches that we should greet everyone with a cheerful face. Look at this text and then go out and put post it notes around town to make people smile when they see them.  

June 18th: Go Fishing Day 

• 🧿 All things fish. Fish crackers, fish for dinner, Swedish fish… how can you embrace fish? Here is a guide for Kosher fish to talk about while you munch. 
• 📖 Host a boys’ fishing trip and discuss Jewish masculinity through the lens of a famous friendship. 

June 19th: Juneteenth 

• 🧿 Read and discuss an article about Juneteenth by a Black Jew (e.g. “What is Juneteenth to a Black Jew”, “Jewish Juneteeth”, “Juneteenth Offers Us a Day for Reflection and Healing” while enjoying food from a Black-owned restaurant 
• 📖 Explore the themes of freedom in Jewish tradition.  
• 🫂 Host a program making food using recipes from Michael Twitty, a well-known chef who’s Black and Jewish! Host a book club with Adrian E. Miller’s book “soul food” and discuss the roots of one of America’s oldest cuisines.” 
• 🫂 Contact your local Repair the World fellow or field director to partner and plan a program for Black History month.  
• 🫂 Have a beauty day and flex your purchasing power! Madam CJ Walker was an entrepreneur and philanthropist who created an entire beauty care line for Black Women. Host a spa day featuring Black owned beauty products. If you ask, and even more so in the month of February stores will tell you which companies are Black owned. Etsy will also let you filter for Black owned brands. Did you know? The higher the Black population the greater the likelihood they carry Black brands? Not every Sephora, CVS, and other stores carry the same inventory as they have different products or larger amount of a product based on the area. 
• 🌱 Consider hosting a Tikkun Olam program or stepping out of your MoHo and supporting your local community.   

June 20th: National Ice Cream Soda Day  

• 🧿 Pair your ice cream with some learning about ice cream and Judaism! 

June 21^st: Summer Solstice 

• 📖 Longest Day Program Longest Day ready to go program.docx 

June 21^st: Father’s Day 

• 📖 Watch clips showcasing different TV dads and debate their dad style. Compare those to our Biblical dads like (Abe, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, etc…) 
• 🧿 Host a Dad Joke Day program. Here’s 106 Jewish dad jokes.  
• 📖 Discuss Jewish masculinity through the lens of a famous friendship. 

June 23rd: Let it Go Day 

• 📖 Watch Frozen and talk about how we can lessen our stress and let things go.  
• 📖 Lessen your stress by imagining you’re on a Caribbean island.  Caribbean Night Ready to go program.docx 

June 24th: Swim a Lap Day 

• 🧿 Pool Party!!! The Talmud teaches that a parent has an obligation to teach their child to swim. Talk about this idea as you splash around and swim a lap.  

June 29^th: National Camera Day  

• 📖 A great opportunity to host PhotTO(RAH)graphy: exploring Torah through photography!   

June 30: Social Media Day 

• 🧿 Social Media game night. Play ‘caption this’, ‘virtual scavenger hunt’, ‘story continuation’ based around your favorite Jewish holiday or story. Here is a Jewish framework for social media. 

Compiled by Rabbi Shari Shamah, with contributions made by Adena Walker, Adira Rosen, Annie Prusky and Abbey London.