B"H
Monday, Menachem Av 1, 5777 / July 24, 2017
Today is Rosh Chodesh of the new Hebrew month, Menachem Av. As on every Rosh Chodesh, we recite the additional prayers of Hallel and Musaf. We also read the Torah portion about the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices which were brought in the Temple.
The Hebrew names of the months consist of one word (Nissan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, etc.). Two months have a word added to their name; Cheshvan is called Mar-Cheshvan & Av is called Menachem Av.
Q. Why was the word Menachem added to the name of this month Av?
A.“Menachem” means to bring “comfort.” The first nine days of the month of Av are days of sadness and mourning. These are the days in which we mourn the destruction of the two Holy Temples, which were both destroyed on the ninth day in Av. We therefore fast on the ninth of Av.
“Av" in Hebrew means "Father" and “Menachem” means "Comfort." Menachem Av is a prayer that G-d, our Father in Heaven, shall grant us comfort in this month and rebuild the Holy Temple, which was destroyed in this month of Av.
Today, Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, is the yartzeit (day of passing) of Aaronthe High Priest.
Aaron was three years older than his brother Moshe (Moses). Aaron accompanied Moshe when he went to Pharaoh to command him to let the Jewish people go. Together with Moshe he led the Jewish people through the forty years of their desert journey. Just like Moshe, Aaron was not permitted to go into the promised land. He passed away at the age of one hundred and twenty three.
The only date mentioned in the Torah of someone’s passing is that of Aaron. The Torah states that Aaron passed away on the first day of the fifth month, which is on Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av. Even Moshe’s day of passing, which is the seventh of Adar, is not stated in the Torah openly.
Our sages tell us that Aaron had a unique quality; “He loved peaceand went out of his way to restore peace between husband and wife and between one person and another. In his unique, non-judgmental and peaceful way he would also make people realize when they sinned against G-d, thus restoring peace between man and G-d. Aaron accomplished this through his genuine love for people.
Although we cannot attain the spiritual level of Aaron the High Priest, yet, this particular quality of loving peace and promoting peace, is something we must all seek. Our sages tell us, “Be of the disciples of Aaron; loving peace, pursuing peace, loving people and drawing them to Torah.”
HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH