tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30577778.post8178342334895968145..comments2008-03-12T11:08:34.413-05:00Geoffrey Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07730822805332856423noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30577778.post-61402395278034256202008-03-12T11:02:00.000-05:002008-03-12T11:02:00.000-05:00Another excellent post Rav Dennis! Now I'm trying to think of the implications of these different calendar systems on the symbology of the sun and especially the moon. The moon is symbollically associated with the waning and waxing of the strength of the community of Israel (depicted as a woman), the shekhina, tshuvah and purity based on the relationship between the tidal/moon/menstrual cycle. If the moon calendar was anathema to certain priests (Tsadukim/Saducees?), then I wonder whether this moon welcoming tradition (complete with dancing on Rosh Chodesh) derives from an ancient rural (non-Jerusalemite) folk tradition preserved by the Perushim/Pharisees. In related thoughts, I was already wondering to what degree equinox/solstice holidays were preserved in the Solar/Lunar calendar. After two years straight of symbollically intense lunar eclipses falling in Adar and on Purim, I'm excited for April 2009's Birkhat Hahammah (blessing on the sun) -- I've only been waiting since 1981 for the opportunity to say it :)Aharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05022525754530676948noreply@blogger.com