Rosh Hodesh

Found 4 Search results

  1. "Each and Every Month, and Each and Every Shabbat"

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    Parashat Pinchas and Parasht Emor include Shabbat and Rosh Hodesh in the list of festivals. Shabbat and Rosh Hodesh are also appointed a special Musaf sacrifice, just like other festivals. Apparently, Shabbat should be considered a sanctified day and a day of rest despite the fact that technically it is not a holiday. The unique Musaf sacrifice offered on Shabbat indicates a unique status among the festivals. In contrast, Rosh Hodesh is not considered "Mikra Kodesh" - a sanctified day - but is nonetheless included in the list of festivals. The status of Rosh Hodesh is therefore somewhere between that of Shabbat and a regular day.

  2. Barkhi Nafshi: Tehillim 104 - A Midrash on Creation

    Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot | 55 minutes

    The Mizmor in Tehillim known as "Barkhi Nafshi" is recited on Rosh Hodesh - the first day of a new month, a time of renewal. We focus on the mizmor itself, looking at the content and structure, following the methodology of Meir Weiss and Rav Elhannan Samet. The Psalm has an envelope structure, beginning and ending with the phrase "Bless the LORD, O my soul." What is the Meshorer (Psalmist) blessing God about? The Mizmor seems to be a lyrical praise-filled depiction of creation-- not a chronological history of creation, but rather the Psalmist's experience of the world around him, the wisdom in God's setting up the state of creation of the wondrous world in a way that would allow humans and animals to flourish, with space for everyone to live in harmony, sustained by God.


     

  3. Avraham's Aliya, Our Aliya, and the Chagim

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 18 minutes

    We see from last week’s parsha that Avraham has picked up and headed for Canaan, even before receiving a commandment from God.

    This parasha is full of messages about belief, trust in God, and Aliyah -  in the midst of Avraham's immigration which is full of question marks.

    There is a commandment but also a pull toward Eretz Yisrael. For Avraham and for contemporary olim (immigrants), there is no initial promise that everything is going to work out - we have to wait for the next part of the parasha where God will give us the promise. The idea of hope during a time of many unknowns also relates to Rosh Hodesh, a time of optimism and looking forward to the middle of the month when the moon is in full view, and when many of our festivals are celebrated, symbolizing God's manifestation to Israel after periods of seeming obscurity - periods to cultivate optimism.

     

  4. God Lifts the Destitute from the Dust: Abarbanel on the First Chapter of Hallel

    Rabbi David Silverberg