Ma'agal Adar: A Moon-Centered Chant Circle

In our mystical tradition, the word ma'agal (Hebrew for circle) signifies redeemed relational structure and radical belonging. In the ma'gal, every point is equidistant to the center in a connected circuit of wholeness.

This monthly ma'agal has two interweaving threads -- a renewed, chant-based version of the traditional Kiddush Levana ritual, as well as practices around the unique qualities of the month in which we gather. Our first ma'agal will be in Adar -- where we celebrate Purim and harness the archetypal energy of the Holy Fool, who is unafraid to dance within the Great Mystery.

The power and beauty of Kiddush Levana is based in the mythic story that the moon's light was once equal to that of the sun, but then was diminshed. The moon represents the Divine Feminine (Shechinah), and all parts of the world and within ourselves that have been silenced, marginalized or not fully welcome. So every month, we're invited to bless her ability to renew, along with our own.

According to the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, herbalist and healer, Shechinah dwells not above, but among us -- as a point within a circle.

Come with your whole-hearted presence to chant, connect, and explore together. The ma'agal is waiting for you!

The ritual/chant circle goes from 7:15 - 8:30pm, with time after to drink tea and shmooze. Please register here so I know you're coming. There is a suggested donation of $10-18 per person. My Venmo is @Ariel-Hendelman. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Ariel will be ordained as a Rabbi through Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal in January. She loves leading chant and meditation circles, and teaches Torah through a mythological and mindful lens both online and in person. Ariel is the Spiritual Leader of B'nai Or Boston.

When Ariel was young and asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she responded, "a builder and a fixer, or a Rabbi." While growing up is still happening, she has found that answering the call to become a Rabbi is also the call to build and repair. Ariel walks the mystical path of Love and invites others to join in the journey towards wholeness and remembering.

Ariel's written words appear in Ayin Press, Double Blind Magazine, and most recently, on her Substack. She is in the process of writing her first book, Shmonah, a tale of mythology about Cain and Abel's sister on a rite of passage journey back to Eden.

While living in Jerusalem until 2020, Ariel co-founded Shabbat Shelach, an LGBTQ+ community, hosting monthly Shabbat meals and the largest post-Pride-March Shabbat ever, with speakers such as Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie.

Ariel’s debut album, Prayers for Fire & Water is a soulful blend of folk and niggunim, and can be found wherever you get your music. In her free time, Ariel loves playing music around the bonfire and eating cornbread.

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