B"H
Tuesday, Nissan 1, 5784 / April 9, 2024
Today is Rosh Chodesh Nissan - the first day of the month, Nissan.
As in every Rosh Chodesh the morning service is longer than usual. We recite the Hallel, we read from the Torah and recite the Musaf prayer.
In the five Books of the Torah, the months have no names (the names for the months were given later). In the Torah the months are identified by numbers. The Hebrew calendar begins with Nissan which is called the "first month".
The Torah tells us that the holiday of Pesach (Passover) is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month. Rosh Hashana is on the first day of the seventh month and Yom Kippur on the tenth day of the seventh month. The reason that all the months are referred to by number is also connected with the holiday of Pesach and the Exodus.
The Torah commands us that we must remember the Exodus all the days of our life. It is one of the six remembrances which a Jew must remember each day.
In the Haggadah, after recounting the enslavement and liberation of our people in Egypt, we recite, "In every generationone is obligated to view himself as if he has gone out from Egypt..."
One way to remember and integrate the Exodus into our daily activities is by counting the months by numbers. In this way, each month is in relation to the first month, Nissan. For example, Tishrei is the seventh month from Nissan. Thus, we always remember the month of Nissan and, by implication, its significance, the Exodus from Egypt.
On this day, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, in the year 2448 (in the Hebrew calendar), which was two weeks before their Exodus, Jews in Egypt were given their first mitzvah, the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh. Rosh Chodesh signifies the power of the moon, which becomes visible on Rosh Chodesh. Jews are compared to the moon. We saw the power of the moon yesterday with the eclipse, as it blocked out the mighty sun.
On Rosh Chodesh Nissan in the year 2449, a year after the Exodus, Moshe erected the Mishkan and dedicated it. The month of Nissan is a special month. We do not recite the prayers of supplication (Tachnun) during the entire month.
The word "Nissan" comes from the Hebrew word "Nes" - "miracle". Indeed, this is a special month in which the greatest of all miracles took place for the Jewish people. The Talmud tells us that if someone sees the word "Nissan" in a dream, then miracles will happen to him. May this "Nissan" truly be a month of miracles for everyone, especially for our brothers and sisters in Israel, in all aspects of their lives. May the hostages be freed and return to their families to celebrate Pesach together. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL CHODESH
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.