Rabbi Vicki Hollander

The Moon of Tamuz (June-July)

Your soul is older now.
The experiences of life etched into your being.
You've gained insight.
You've gained wisdom from where you've walked.

El Shaddai,
One Who like a mother nurtures new life,
gently and lovingly guide Tamuz into being.

The Moon of Tamuz heralds the entry of summer.

Heavy with heat drying the fields,
she shepherds human and beast inside to seek shelter from the sun.

So too El Shaddai You teach me to join in this ancient dance,
that there are times when I need enter my home and rest and be still awhile.

Tamuz, the month where grapes sweeten, pomegranates ripen,
dates darken, where apples turn to red and gold.

You teach me to trust the earth's wisdom, to let go of my powers,
to respect and step with her ancient movements.

You remind me that I too at times need just be still in order to ripen,
to become sweet in my own season.

In this Moon of Tamuz, You, like an aged woman,
lay Your hand on my fevered brow and bid me take respite.

With the slow movements of one who has wizened,
with the sage eyes of one who possesses knowledge,
You smile at my impetuousness.
And I, cuddled in Your arms, dream dreams of sun soaked fruits,
of lush vines singing, of the golden harvest dancing, swaying in the breeze.

And in this month
after the moon is full, 
just as she slowly, slowly wanes,
I too slowly slide into the night.

I hear the voices of my ancestors
who call out to me
to remember them and
to savor the gifts of my life.

They subtly enter
my days of sun,
into my starry summer evenings.

El Shaddai, You Who nursemaid all life,
in this Moon of Tamuz, with gentle kindness,
for the sake of my ancestors, for the sake of my children,
aid the new fruits from my life to tenderly ripen on their vines and
enable them in their due time, to shed sweet scent
and to move into
and hearten this world.

With loving hands guide my steps, as we find our way together
on our journey
called life.

El Shaddai,

You Who tenderly fosters life,

You Who loves me deeply,

protect the door posts of my house and my gates.

In this Moon of ripening and descent,
travel by my side
and aid me,
El Shaddai

Photography Credits:

First and second photograph: Alon Kvashny
Third photograph: Frank Dobrushken