B"H
Tuesday, Tevet 28, 5785 / January 28, 2025
The mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh is found in this week's Parsha, Bo. It is the first mitzvah given to the Jewish people, while they were still in Egypt, two weeks before the Exodus.
G-d commanded the Jewish people to observe the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh. "And the L-rd spoke to Moshe and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: 'This month (Nissan) shall be to you the beginning of months; the first shall it be to you of the months of the year."
Rosh Chodesh is celebrated each month on the day when the moon starts its cycle of rebirth. From this day on it becomes visible again and will be getting fuller each night. Although the New Year is celebrated on Rosh Hashanah which is in the month of Tishrei, G-d set the month of Nissan, which is the month of the Exodus, as the first month. The months are identified in the Torah not by name but by numbers - one to twelve. Nissan, in which we celebrate the holiday of Pesach, is called the first month. Rosh Hashana, when we celebrate the beginning of the New Year is in the seventh month.
The name Nissan comes from the word Nes – miracle. By commanding us to count the months from Nissan, G-d teaches us that our national existence transcends the laws of nature and falls under the laws of miracles. This is the secret of our Jewish survival over the past 3,000 years until this very day!
The Hebrew calendar is based on a lunar cycle. The reappearance of the moon at each monthly cycle is called "Molad" when the moon is "reborn." Originally, Rosh Chodesh was established after two witnesses came to the High Court (Sanhederin) and testified that they saw the new moon. After the destruction of the Holy Temple and the abolishment of the High Court, the Hebrew calendar was established by calculation.
Q. What is the significance of Rosh Chodesh that it was the first mitzvah given to us?
A. Time and again, down to our present day and age, the Jewish nation has gone through many cycles. At times it appeared as though we were near extinction; yet like the moon, we came back to shine again. The mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh, which is on the day when the moon becomes visible again after it was invisible, gives us hope and confidence that the Jewish people will survive and overcome all adversities.
Q.Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh, we recite the prayer of "Mi She'asa Nissim - He Who performed miracles for our forefathers and redeemed them from slavery to freedom - May He redeem us soon...” What is the connection between the prayer for "redemption" and the blessing of Rosh Chodesh?
A.As mentioned above, the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh was given to the Jewish people in Egypt as a prelude to the Exodus. Similarly, as we perform this mitzvah we pray that we too should merit the final redemption with the coming of Moshiach. Amen.
Wednesday night & Thursday is Rosh Chodesh of the new Hebrew month, Shevat
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW