Q & A
How does one honor Rosh Chodesh?
- Shulchan Aruch (OC 418:1) writes that one is absolutely forbidden to fast on Rosh
Chodesh. - The Beiur Halacha (418, s.v. Rosh Chodesh) adds that one is not even permitted to
fast for part of the day (taamos sha'os).
- On the contrary, on Rosh Chodesh there is a mitzvah to increase one’s meal (Shulchan
Aruch OC 419:1). - Although there is no specific requirement to eat bread on Rosh Chodesh, it is proper to
eat a full seudah.
- The Mishnah Berurah writes that it is proper to honor Rosh Chodesh by preparing an
extra dish that one would not ordinarily have served. - The same is true even when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbas.
- Furthermore, Chazal tells us that just as the expenditures for Shabbas do not diminish the portion that Hashem has allotted to us for the year, so too with the expenditures for Rosh Chodesh.
- Women have an additional way to honor Rosh Chodesh, by refraining from doing certain
forms of melacha.
Why is it the custom that only women refrain from doing
melacha on Rosh Chodesh?
- Though there are many explanations, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt'l suggested the following in the name of his father Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, zt'l.
- The Talmud Yerushalmi (Pesachim 4:1) writes that the day that a person offers
a Korban is considered a holiday & one must refrain from doing melacha (certain work
-type activities).
- When a person offers a Korban, it is as though he is standing before Hashem & at such
a time, it is improper for him to busy himself in trivial matters. - The Yerushalmi asks that since the Korban Tamid (daily sacrifice) is brought every day
on behalf of all Jews, we should never be allowed to work! - The Yerushalmi answers that since this is not possible, each day a delegation (known as anshei ma'amad) was sent to the Beis Hamikdash to watch as the Korban was brought.
- These representatives stood before Hashem in our place & only they were forbidden from
doing melacha. - When the women refused to contribute to the Golden Calf, yet donated generously to the construction of the Mishkan which was completed on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, they elevated themselves to the status of standing before Hashem.
- When the Korban of Rosh Chodesh was brought, it was as though they were watching & it
was therefore considered their Yom Tov. - By refraining every month from doing melacha on Rosh Chodesh, women demonstrate
that they are still standing before Hashem. - The Korban of Rosh Chodesh remains their personal Korban & it is therefore improper for
them to perform melachaon Rosh Chodesh.
In the Jewish calendar, months are either 29 or 30 days in length.
Why is it that for a 29 day month (known as a choser),
we observe only one day Rosh Chodesh, while for a 30 day month
(which is referred to as a moleh) we observe 2 days Rosh Chodesh
- Rabbeinu Yeshaya ha’Rishon (b. 1180) [Teshuvos Ha’Rid 32] writes that one might suggest that we observe 2 days of Rosh Chodesh because of sfeika d'yomas (doubts in
the calendar), which is the reason we observe two days of Yom Tov. However, this cannot
be correct, for if so, we would observe 2 days Rosh Chodesh every month - .Rather, the reason is as follows.The Jewish months follow the lunar cycle which is approximately 29½ days. In theory, each month on the calendar should be 29½ days.
However, this cannot be done, because a month must consist of integral numbers of days
& not fractions. For this reason, we are required to alternate months between 29 & 30 days
in length, so that on average, the cycle is 29½ days. On a moleh (30-day month), Rosh
Chodesh should begin in the middle of the 30th day when the new moon appears. However,
this cannot be done, because we may not split the holiness of a day in half. If part of the
day is holy, then the entire day must be holy. Rather, in such a month we designate the
31st day as Rosh Chodesh. However, in recognition of the fact that the new moon really appeared in the middle of the 30th day & the latter half of the 30th day was fitting to have
been declared Rosh Chodesh, the Rabbis instituted that the 30th day should be observed
as Rosh Chodesh as well. - Rabbeinu Yeshaya points out that the custom of observing two days of Rosh Chodesh
has very early sources and is alluded to in Sefer Shmuel I (20:27).
Why do we call up four aliyos on Rosh Chodesh?
- The Gemara (Megillah 22b) offers two explanations as to why we read 4 aliyos on
Rosh Chodesh, one more aliya than is read on a regular Monday or Thursday:
- We read an extra aliya on Rosh Chodesh to indicate that Rosh Chodesh has greater
holiness than a regular weekday because of the Korban musaf sacrifice.
- On Mondays & Thursdays people hurry to work, & the Rabbis limited the Torah reading
to 3 aliyos.On Rosh Chodesh, people have more time & Torah reading is extended.
- Rashi & Tosfos (Megillah 22b) explain that although work is not forbidden on Rosh
Chodesh,people do not rush to work since there is a custom for women to refrain from
doing melacha.The commentaries discuss why work-restrictions on women would be
relevant to the mitzvah of mitzvah of kriyas ha Tora, which is primarily observed by men.
I forgot to recite Yaaleh V'Yavo in benching on Rosh Chodesh.
What should I do?
- Shulchan Aruch (OC 188:7) writes if one realized their mistake before beginning the
4th bracha (Hatov V'Hameitiv) in place of Ya'aleh V'Yavo, a special bracha should
be recited: 'Baruch Atah Hashem...Ya'aleh V'Yavo,a special bracha should be recited:
'Baruch Atah Hashem...shenasan Roshei Chodoshim I'amo Yisroel l'zikaron” - After beginning the fourth bracha one continues & does not repeat bentching.Benching
is only repeated whenYa'aleh V'Yavo is omitted on days when a seuda is obligatory. - Since there is no obligation to eat a seuda in honor of Rosh Chodesh, if Ya'aleh V'Yavo
is forgotten,bentching is not repeated. - Even if one forgot Ya'aleh V'Yavo on Shabbas Rosh Chodes, one doesn't repeat
benching because the meal is obligated by Shabbas & not Rosh Chodesh.(Magen
Avrohom 188:12).
I forgot to recite Yaaleh V'Yavo in bentching on Rosh Chodesh.
Can I recite it at the end of bentching as part of the Harachaman section?
- The Rama (OC 188:7) writes that even though one who forgot to recite Al Hanissim
during bentching should recite Al Hanissimin the Harachaman section of bentching,
if one forgot Ya'aleh V'Yavo on Rosh Chodesh the custom is not to do so. - Rama explains that since Ya'aleh V'Yavoon contains the name of Hashem, saying this tefilah when there is no obligation might be considered reciting Hashem's name l'vatala
(in vain). - The Biur Halacha (ibid) & Aruch Hashulchan (OC 188:17) respond that saying
Ya'aleh V'Yavo to fulfill an obligation & not as a voluntary tefilah, is treated more
stringently. - Nontheless, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (following the custom of his father, Rav
Moshe), did not recite G-d’s name when singing Shabbos zemiros, based on the
position of the Rama regarding Ya'aleh V'Yavo Nefesh Harav, page 160.
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