Academy Women Create New Discussion Program
Originally featured in HaGesher, American Hebrew Academy's Monthly Newsletter

Under the leadership of Rabbi Amy Morrison and Academy Fellow Kelly Kossar, the Rosh Hodesh program for girls has become an overwhelming success. Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing! is the first proactive, informal education program that uses Judaism to enrich the lives of girls. It draws on Jewish tradition to give girls a place to feel safe, articulate their questions and concerns, have fun, and be 'real' with their peers.

The girls try to meet monthly depending on the calendar of events for informal discussion where they can talk about the integration of core Jewish values in their lives and how they impact body image, friendship, relationships, competition, stress, and family.

The Rosh Hodesh program is in place at close to 300 organizations including JCCs, synagogues, and day schools of all denominations. Rosh Hodesh is a program of Moving Traditions, which envisions a dynamic and welcoming Judaism that incorporates new gender roles and understandings. Through informal education about Jewish values and based on experiential, transdenominational discussions, Rosh Hodesh hopes to build greater Jewish identity.

At the first get together, Rabbi Morrison lead the girls in a historical discussion of the roles Jewish woman have played from biblical times to modern times. Each girl then followed with why she enjoyed being a girl. Fellow Kelly Kossar then led a guided discussion in which each girl identified influential woman in their own lives and the characteristics they valued most in these women. The evening concluded with each girl writing a letter or blessing to their future daughters. The first meeting was so well received that two students have already volunteered to serve as peer leaders of the next program. Mazel tov to all of the participants, and a hearty kol hakavod to Rabbi Amy Morrison and Fellow Kelly Kossar for their leadership and mentoring of Academy girls.

To bring Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing! to girls in your community, contact Jennifer Groen, National Director, Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing! at (215) 887-4511 x103 or jgroen@movingtraditions.org.

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