B"H
Monday, Elul 18, 5780 / September 7, 2020
Today, the 18th of Elul, is the birthday of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov and also of Rabbi Shneur Zalmen, the first Rebbe of Chabad. May their saintly memories bring good health and blessings to all.
Rosh Hashana, which ushers in the New Year, 5781, begins Friday night, September 18, through Shabbat and Sunday. Unlike other holidays, which are celebrated two days in the Diaspora and only one day in Israel, Rosh Hashana is a two day holiday in Israel too. In fact, it is the only holiday which is celebrated two consecutive days in Israel. As with all Jewish holidays and Shabbat they all start from the night before.
Q. What is the reason that in our tradition the day begins from the night before?
A. When describing each day of creation, the Torah in the Book of Genesis says, “And there was evening and there was morning, one day…” The same for the other days of creation, the Torah mentions first evening and then morning. Because according to Torah the day starts from the evening before (Shabbat begins Friday night & Sunday begins Saturday night, etc.).
Q. Why is Rosh Hashana different from other holidays that it is celebrated two days also in Israel?
A. There is a Halachic rule called “Minhag Avoteinu biyadeinu” – “We follow the custom of our ancestors.” Tradition is very important in Judaism. This is why we find different customs for Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews. Each one follows the tradition of their ancestors.
The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar. At the end of the Hebrew month the moon is not visible. On the day it re-appears, that day is Rosh Chodesh. In ancient times, during the days of the Holy Temple, the way the new month was established was that, two people who saw the re-appearance of the moon came to the High Court in Jerusalem, and gave testimony that they saw the “new” moon. If the court was satisfied with their testimony, the court would establish that day Rosh Chodesh – the first day of the new month.
Months which had a major holiday in them, like Pesach and Sukkot, which are on the 15th of the month, they would send messengers throughout Israel to let everyone know when Rosh Chodesh was established, so they will know when the 15th of the month is so they can celebrate Pesach and Sukkot on the correct date.
It would take the messengers about 15 days to travel throughout Israel. By the fifteenth of the month everyone knew when Pesach or Sukkot was and they celebrated one day – the correct day. However, beyond the borders of Israel, Jews didn’t know the exact day and they would celebrate two days, just to be sure. Today, as then, other holidays are celebrated one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora.
Rosh Hashana is the only holiday which is celebrated on the FIRST day of the month. As soon as the High court established Rosh Chodesh of the month, Tishrei, immediately it became Rosh Hashana and even in Israel it was impossible to notify anyone about it. As a result, people in Israel also had to celebrate two days Rosh Hashana. Thus, although today we have a set calendar, Rosh Hashana is celebrated two days even in Israel, as it was celebrated in the days of the Temple, because of the importance of tradition.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHANA TOVA