This week's parsha, which culminates in our Exodus from Egypt and becoming a nation, also contains the mitzvah of sanctifying the new moon, the first mitzvah that we were commanded. החדש הזה לכם ראש חדשים,this month shall be for you the beginning of the months. Rashi tells us that Moshe had a hard time understanding at what point to sanctify the moon, so Hashem had to point to it and say when it's like this, sanctify it.
I heard a question that Rabbi YY Jacobson posed on this Rashi. The Jewish people are about to be redeemed from Egypt where they have been enslaved for so many years and now Hashem decides that they needed a lesson in astronomy? Couldn't this wait until they were freed? Additionally, Moshe Rabbeinu, who learned the whole Torah from Hashem with all the most intricate laws on a multitude of subjects, was able to understand it and teach it to the Jewish people. How is it possible that he wasn't able to understand when Hashem told him what the moon should look like, that He had to show it to him?
The Mishnah tells us a story about two witnesses who came to sanctify the moon, that Rabban Gamliel accepted and whom Rebbi Yehoshua felt couldn't be trusted. Therefore, Rebbi Yehoshua held that Rosh Chodesh was really the next day and, accordingly, all the holidays would fall out a day later. Rabban Gamliel then told Rebbi Yehoshua to come to him with his stick and money belt on the day that he said was Yom Kippur. When Rebbi Akiva saw that Rebbi Yehoshua was upset, he said to him that he had to listen because Rosh Chodesh is when Beis Din declares it. Whether it's right or wrong, it's Beis Din's power to declare the month. The midrash relates that the malachim came to Hashem and asked, “when is Rosh Hashana?” Hashem answered, “you’re asking Me? Let's go see when Beis Din declares Rosh Chodesh.”
This demonstrates the great significance of when we sanctify the moon and that it could only be done by man; not even Hashem decides when Rosh Chodesh is.
What is the underlying message of the new moon that it had to be done before the Jews left Egypt and that even Moshe didn't understand that which can only be done by man?
The Lubavitcher Rebbi explains that the difference between the sun and the moon is that the sun is stable and unchanging while the moon is unpredictable, as every day it's different. Some days it’s bigger, some days smaller, until it disappears for a couple of days but then it returns.
The moon, though not as big or grand as the sun, has one thing that the sun doesn't have. The moon, no matter what happens, though it gets smaller and smaller and even disappears for a while, will always come back and regrow. This is the message that was so important. This is what Hashem had to make sure that they knew before they were liberated. They had to know that whatever happens in life, no matter how bad it gets, there is always rebirth. This is what Moshe couldn't understand: how could a people go through so much hardship, yet they wouldn't give up and even be able to come back better than before.
Sir Edmond Hillary, who had attempted to climb Mt Everest many times but failed, had a dinner given to honor him for all his valiant attempts. When he got up to speak, he turned to the picture of the mountain behind him and said, “mountain, you have defeated me. You made me a failure. However, I will beat you yet, for I have something that you don't. You have stopped growing. You are where you are, but I, however, haven't stopped. I am still growing and I will beat you yet. The next year he made it to the top.
Perhaps the reason why Hashem gave over the power to make the new month to the people, the new month that signifies rebirth, is to show that it's all in our hands, it's up to each person to disregard the past and start anew.
This is why the moon is so significant to the Jewish people, for it gives us hope. It shows us that no matter what our challenge is, no matter how bleak it seems, we can and will bounce back!
I heard a question that Rabbi YY Jacobson posed on this Rashi. The Jewish people are about to be redeemed from Egypt where they have been enslaved for so many years and now Hashem decides that they needed a lesson in astronomy? Couldn't this wait until they were freed? Additionally, Moshe Rabbeinu, who learned the whole Torah from Hashem with all the most intricate laws on a multitude of subjects, was able to understand it and teach it to the Jewish people. How is it possible that he wasn't able to understand when Hashem told him what the moon should look like, that He had to show it to him?
The Mishnah tells us a story about two witnesses who came to sanctify the moon, that Rabban Gamliel accepted and whom Rebbi Yehoshua felt couldn't be trusted. Therefore, Rebbi Yehoshua held that Rosh Chodesh was really the next day and, accordingly, all the holidays would fall out a day later. Rabban Gamliel then told Rebbi Yehoshua to come to him with his stick and money belt on the day that he said was Yom Kippur. When Rebbi Akiva saw that Rebbi Yehoshua was upset, he said to him that he had to listen because Rosh Chodesh is when Beis Din declares it. Whether it's right or wrong, it's Beis Din's power to declare the month. The midrash relates that the malachim came to Hashem and asked, “when is Rosh Hashana?” Hashem answered, “you’re asking Me? Let's go see when Beis Din declares Rosh Chodesh.”
This demonstrates the great significance of when we sanctify the moon and that it could only be done by man; not even Hashem decides when Rosh Chodesh is.
What is the underlying message of the new moon that it had to be done before the Jews left Egypt and that even Moshe didn't understand that which can only be done by man?
The Lubavitcher Rebbi explains that the difference between the sun and the moon is that the sun is stable and unchanging while the moon is unpredictable, as every day it's different. Some days it’s bigger, some days smaller, until it disappears for a couple of days but then it returns.
The moon, though not as big or grand as the sun, has one thing that the sun doesn't have. The moon, no matter what happens, though it gets smaller and smaller and even disappears for a while, will always come back and regrow. This is the message that was so important. This is what Hashem had to make sure that they knew before they were liberated. They had to know that whatever happens in life, no matter how bad it gets, there is always rebirth. This is what Moshe couldn't understand: how could a people go through so much hardship, yet they wouldn't give up and even be able to come back better than before.
Sir Edmond Hillary, who had attempted to climb Mt Everest many times but failed, had a dinner given to honor him for all his valiant attempts. When he got up to speak, he turned to the picture of the mountain behind him and said, “mountain, you have defeated me. You made me a failure. However, I will beat you yet, for I have something that you don't. You have stopped growing. You are where you are, but I, however, haven't stopped. I am still growing and I will beat you yet. The next year he made it to the top.
Perhaps the reason why Hashem gave over the power to make the new month to the people, the new month that signifies rebirth, is to show that it's all in our hands, it's up to each person to disregard the past and start anew.
This is why the moon is so significant to the Jewish people, for it gives us hope. It shows us that no matter what our challenge is, no matter how bleak it seems, we can and will bounce back!
No comments:
Post a Comment