hashana- This month shall be for you the beginning of the months, it shall be for you the first of the months of the year.’
The day before Rosh Chodesh is known as Yom Kippur Katan. Some people even use this day as a fast. When Rosh Chodesh is on Shabbat or Sunday, we fast on Thursday. We do not fast on Rosh Chodesh Tishrei, because we do not fast on erev Rosh Hashana.
It is customary for women not to work on Rosh Chodesh. For example, some try to refrain from doing laundry. It is also customary for men and women to wear something extra nice on this special day.
Rosh Chodesh is the first mitzvah given to Bnei Yisroel. This was the month in which Hashem told Bnei Yisrael that they were to leave Egypt and it would be the first month used in creating the calendar. Some people consider Rosh Chodesh a holiday because of the fact that Hallel is added to the davening. Just like many other Jewish holidays, Hallel is an important additional custom that is added to the tefila on Rosh Chodesh. In addition to Hallel, many people say extra tefilot and some people try not to work as much.
Rosh Chodesh was given as a special Mitzvah for the women because they did not participate in the big sin of the Golden Calf. We learn a very important lesson from this. We see the women’s greatness in that they did not fall into the pressure of sinning. They served as great role models and we still acknowledge it today. We learn the beautiful lesson of standing up for what is right regardless of what everyone else is doing. An example of this in our everyday lives is peer pressure. Being in Elementary School, many children sometimes face troubles involving peer pressure. It is important not to give in and stand up for what you believe in because that is what will make you a better person.
In the article by Dina Coopersmith about Rosh Chodesh, she talks about why Rosh Chodesh is important to the Jewish people. She says that the Jews have this unique task of making up their own calendar and keeping Rosh Chodesh. Now, unlike when we were in Egypt, we have the ability to be masters of our own time. We are masters of our time because we control what we do and how we spend our time on this earth. We now have the freedom and obligation to take advantage of this and celebrate Rosh Chodesh together as the Jewish nation.
Although many people think that men receive all of the(important) mitzvot, from here we see that is not true. Women are honored with the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh. Not only that, but it is the FIRST mitzvah given to the Jews. Therefore, the next time you think about women getting very little mitzvot, think about Rosh Chodesh and just how significant it is!
Thank You and Shabbat Shalom.
Bibliography
Kitov, Eliyahu. “Rosh Chodesh”. The Book of Our Heritage. 3 volume pocket ed. New York: Feldheim Publishers, 1999. 213-231. Print.