Rosh Chodesh Av

Rosh Chodesh or Rosh Hodesh (Hebrew: ראש חודש; trans. Beginning of the Month; lit. Head of the Month) is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the birth of a new moon. It is considered a minor holiday, akin to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot.

Origin

The Book of Exodus establishes the beginning of the Hebrew calendar:
"And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: 'This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you.'" (12:1-2)

In the Book of Numbers, God speaks of the celebration of the new moon to Moses:
"And on your joyous occasions - your fixed festivals and new moon days - you shall sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being." (10:10)

In Psalm 81:3, both new and full moon are mentioned as a time of recognition by the Hebrews:
"Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob."

The occurrence of Rosh Chodesh was originally confirmed on the testimony of witnesses observing the new moon. After the Sanhedrin declared Rosh Chodesh for either a full month or a defective, 29-day month, news of it would then be communicated throughout Israel and the diaspora.

A custom was developed in which an additional day could be added to the month to ensure that certain holidays (such as Yom Kippur) did not fall on the days before or after Shabbat.

The Month of Av

Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av. Av is the 5th month of the Hebrew year. Corresponds to July or August on the Gregorian calendar.

In Hebrew, Av is spelled aleph-bet, the first two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. There is a vast amount of folklore about each of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Legend says that they are indestructible, like Judaism itself.

Av commemorates the destruction of the Temple, the end of an era of Jewish life. It is also taught that the Messiah, who will usher in a new era in Jewish life, will be born in Av. In Av our mourning turns to celebration as we move from the sadness of losing the past to the hope of a brighter future. We begin our journey towards the messianic age — a time when the world will be perfect — with small steps towards tikkun olam (repairing the world), just as we begin our Jewish journey by learning the aleph-bet.

What Do We Do?

Do we say Hallel on Rosh Chodesh Av?

Yes, we do. But the question is not a silly one. The festive flavor usually associated with Rosh Chodesh is hardly in evidence.

The mishna says: "As Av enters, we diminish joy". Rosh Chodesh Av is the beginning of the stricter mourning period for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash – First and Second. The restrictions of the Nine Days generally apply to Rosh Chodesh Av. (This is the Ashkenazi practice. Sephardim begin the restrictions on the second of the month.) It is one of two months on whose Rosh Chodesh fasting is not forbidden.

Rosh Chodesh Av is the Yahrzeit of Aharon HaKohen. It is the only Yahrzeit mentioned in the Torah. It is recorded, not in Parshat Chukat where we read of Aharon’s passing, but in Mas’ei – which we read on the Shabbat closest to Rosh Chodesh Av.

Rosh Chodesh is Rosh Chodesh. It is a joyous and hopeful commemoration of the Beit HaMikdash, not only its destruction. Notwithstanding the mournful nature of the first third of Av, we must keep in mind that after the 10th of the month, the consolation and promise for a brighter future takes over.

Rosh Chodesh Av conjures up a mixture of conflicting moods. That’s okay. Is it contradictory to say Hallel on the day that ushers in a sad period? No. Being Jewish often means being able to see the bright side of sad times, and not forget the sad note at happy times.

May we soon merit the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash – and everything that goes with it – and may our joy then become untarnished and complete.

Let us each put into action the qualities of Aharon HaKohen – love peace and pursue it, love people and bring them closer to Torah – so that the times we yearn for will become a reality, speedily in our time, Amen.