On Jewish calendar: first day of each month
Torah and Scriptures: Exodus 12: 1-2 Psalms 81:3-5 1 Samuel 20:5
Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.”
HOLIDAY BACKGROUND
The new moon marks the beginning of each new month. The first day of the Hebrew month is a dark, seemingly moonless night. By this sign in the sky, time was initially recorded and marked in Israel. Holidays were calculated according to this Rosh Chodesh, or literally, “head of the month.” This provided a reference point so that the ancient people could count forward from the new moon, or first of the month, to calculate holidays.
After leaving Egypt, the first commandment given to Israel was to observe and sanctify the new moon, thereby creating the lunar calendar mentioned previously. The first month was to be marked and noted. This was because the determination of the exact time of the holidays was dependent upon an accurate orientation of the lunar calendar which was to be a direct result of an inerrant calculation of the new moon.
TRADITIONAL OBSERVANCE
Until sixteen hundred years ago, the calendars used by the common people were unwritten. On the night of the new moon, great bonfires were lit on nearby hilltops so as to be seen by all. This marked the beginning of the month, Rosh Chodesh. The calendars were kept “mentally,” as the nation counted days forward from this celestial sign each month.
By the Second Temple period, Rosh Chodesh was quite a festival. The Sanhedrin was appointed as the collective custodian of the calendar, recording faithfully each new moon. Sighting the new moon became quite an occasion: Sumptuous meals were prepared in a large courtyard to encourage the people to serve as witnesses to the sighting. They gathered and waited their turn to be interviewed by the religious leaders. Upon examination of two reliable witnesses, the Sanhedrin declared, “The new month is sanctified- it is sanctified!” The celebration then began. The people were jubilant as the prescribed sacrifices were offered. Meanwhile, the priest blessed the people [with the Aaronic blessing of Num 6:24-26] (Scott, 1997:11).
With such gaiety of the new moon, a celebration was guaranteed at the beginning of each month. This aided the people in keeping their minds attuned to God’s calendar and holidays. The new moon during this time in history rarely passed by without much ado; therefore, the memory of prescribed holy times was brought to the fore each month when the concept of time observance itself was stressed.
We have a scriptural example of traditional Rosh Chodesh observance in the time of King Saul. In the textual story, David speaks to Jonathan and mentions his invitation to dine with King Saul for Rosh Chodesh, or the new moon. Although David declines the invitation to join Saul’s royal table for this traditional monthly feast, he nonetheless acknowledges the holiday and its observance. One of the psalmists also speaks of Rosh Chodesh, with the injunction to “blow the trumpet [shofar or ram’s horn] at the new moon”.
Contrasting with dining gaily or, feasting with jubilation is the second purpose of Rosh Chodesh as recognized by some Jews;Rosh Chodesh is a miniature Yom Kippur, a time of introspection and repentance. With the Day of Atonement coming only once a year, a more frequent periodic opportunity for collective repentance is warranted. Choosing Rosh Chodesh as such a time keeps the faithful from straying too far- surely a monthly spiritual “check up” is better than an annual one!
WOMEN AND ROSH CHODESH
Some traditions of Judaism postulate that only men were involved in the sin of worshipping the golden calf of Exodus 32. Women were believed to have refused to participate. In reward for their abstinence from this idolatrous sin, women were given Rosh Chodesh as their “day off.” In some Jewish circles, women are not required to work at all on the day. This is the reward for women, the gender who is believed to have boycotted the licentiousness of that infamous incident at the foot of Sinai. Thus, this a good time to set aside some charity support for women’s causes.
WHAT CAN THIS MEAN FOR THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Just like the moon, we live in light and darkness. Whether we are in brightness or heavy blackness, we are God’s children and just as much part of His plan. We are just as significant as our God’s love is for us, regardless of the light we feel or see around us-or even of the light we do not. With our focus on this distinction between light and darkness, we can also benefit from opening ourselves up to more light to lift away spiritual darkness. Shadows of evil, even if perceived as slight and “marginal,” may be creeping into our lives. Taking advantage of this opportunity for pause, reflection, introspection and repentance, helps us all keep ourselves in check. This is in hopes that a year filled with monthly self-corrections may prevent us from getting too far off-track as we could if only subjecting ourselves to spiritual examination annually.
ROSH CHODESH HOLIDAY NOSHES (SNACKS)
FRAGRANT CRESCENT MOON SHORTBREAD