Recording by MIRAJ, ©Margot Stein, Rayzel Raphael, Bayla Ruchama, Juliet Spitzer
Rosh HodeshThe new moon, which marks the beginning of the Jewish month. According to tradition, because women did not participate in the sin of the golden calf, they were given the holiday of Rosh Chodesh. It is customary for women not to work on Rosh Chodesh. Adar, February 17,1988
Without her gown
He summoned her down
Said it was his right
As a man with a crown
He was obsessed;
She should be undressed
VashtiIn the Purim story, she is King Ahashveros's first wife. In the first chapter of the Book of Esther, Quieen Vashti refuses to dance for the King and is banished. Long villainized, Vashti has been recently embraced by Jewish women as a contemporay feminist heroine for her defiance of the king. refused to be
a woman oppressed.
CHORUS:
She said “no” to the king,
She said “no” to the king,
She said “no-no-no-no-no-no-no”
She said “no” to the king!
The king then cried,
“Find me a bride;
She must be beautiful
And have no pride.”
When EstherHeroine of the Purim story and Megillat (the scroll of) Esther. She is married to the king by her cousin Mordecai and ultimately saves her people from execution. came
He said, “You I will tame
And if you don’t like it
Well, Vashti’s to blame!”
Esther took heart,
That girl was so smart
Thinking of others
and doing her part
She was to find
to getA writ of divorce. Traditionally, only a man can grant his wife a get. Liberal Jews have amended this tradition, making divorce more egalitarian. out of that bind
She needed her body
and also her mind. (CHORUS)
Esther was brave
But the court was depraved
And Haman the Evil One
Ranted and raved;
She took a stand
Yes, she made a demand
That the Jews should be saved
Throughout the land. (CHORUS)
