B"H
Monday, Iyar 1, 5778 (16th day of Sefirah) / April 16, 2018
Today is the second day Rosh Chodesh of the new Hebrew month,Iyar. During the morning service, we recite the Hallel in honor of Rosh Chodesh. We add Psalm 104 and we read about the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices from the Torah. We also pray the special Musaf service for Rosh Chodesh.
Q.Why is the Musaf service recited only on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays?
A. "Musaf" means "additional." Every day of the year, two daily sacrifices, called “Korban Tamid” were offered in the holy Temple - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The Tamid sacrifice of the morning was the first sacrifice of the day, while the "Tamid" of the afternoon was the final sacrifice of the day. The daily morning prayer (Shacharis) and the afternoon prayer (Mincha) correspond to the two above mentioned sacrifices.
On Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays an additional special "Musaf" sacrifice was offered in the Temple. As a result, on these days, we too add an "additional" - Musaf prayer.
On Rosh Chodesh Iyar, two weeks after the Exodus, G-d gave the Jewish people the mitzvah of Shabbat.
The manna from heaven, which sustained the Jewish people during their 40 year stay in the desert, began in the month of Iyar. Each day, except for Shabbat, the manna would come from heaven. By receiving it each day, they realized that they weretotally dependent upon G-d. Also, the water which flowed from the rock and which traveled with them in the desert began in Iyar.
On Rosh Chodesh Iyar, King Solomon began building the first Holy Temple. It took seven years to complete and stood for 410 years before it was destroyed by the Babylonians. The construction of the Second Temple also began in Iyar. It stood for 420 years.
Our sages say that the month of Iyar is especially significant for "Refuah" - "healing." The four letters which spell Iyar (aleph, yud, yud, resh) are an acronym for the words of the Torah "Ani Hashem Rofecha" - "I am the L-rd Who heals you." May G-d send His blessings of Refuah Shleimah - a complete and full healing to all who need it. Amen
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH
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In loving memory of Jimmy Goldgeier - Yaakov Josef ben Chaim, whose 16th Yartzeit is today, 1 Iyar.
May his memory be a blessing. May his Neshama rest in peace in Gan Eden.
From his parents, brother and daughter-in-law, Charles, Sally, Dan and Valerie Goldgeier