Rosh Chadesh
The First Day of the Lunar Month
The First Day of the Lunar Month
Rosh Chodesh (or Rosh ḥodesh) is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the New Moon. It is considered a minor holiday, akin to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot. In Hebrew, Rosh Chodesh means, literally, "head of the month" or "first of the month."
In ancient times, Rosh Chodesh was a significant festival day. At that time, the new months were determined by observation. Each month began when the first sliver of moon became visible after the dark of the moon. Observers would watch the sky at night for any sign of the moon. If they saw the moon, they would report their sightings to the Sanhedrin, which would interrogate them to make sure that they were not mistaken. Where in the sky did the moon appear? Which direction was it pointing? If two independent, reliable eyewitnesses confirmed that the new moon had appeared and described it consistently, the Sanhedrin would declare the new month and send out messengers to tell people when the month began.
The celebration Rosh Chodesh has blossomed into a celebration of women and femininity. While Rosh Chodesh exists as a women's holiday in traditional Jewish sources, the connection has been made much stronger with the emergence of the women's movement, and the establishment of women's Rosh Chodesh groups. In this way it kind of remind me of some lunar based traditions of paganism.
The Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh is known as Shabbat Mevarekhim, which means "the Sabbath of blessing." After the Torah reading in the Shabbat service, the prayer leader holds the Torah scroll, recites a blessing hoping for a good month, then announces the day of the upcoming week when the new month will begin and the name of the new month. Note that Shabbat Mevarekhim is not necessarily the last Shabbat of the month. In a 30-day month, the 30th is part of Rosh Chodesh for the next month. If the 30th falls on Shabbat, it is the last Shabbat of the month, but Shabbat Mevarekhim occurs on the 23rd, which is the last Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh.
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