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Beit Midrash
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- Peninei Halakha
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- Rosh Chodesh
On the Shabbat preceding Rosh Ĥodesh (known as Shabbat Mevarkhim), it is customary to announce when Rosh Ĥodesh will take place and recite Birkat Ha-ĥodesh (“blessing the new month”), a prayer that God “renew this month for us and for all His people, the house of Israel, for good and blessing.” In a certain way, this prayer also commemorates the sanctification of the new moon by the beit din of old. Therefore, it is customary to announce the exact time at which the new moon will appear. This event is known as the molad, signifying the moon’s “rebirth.” This is also why we stand during the ceremony, as people used to stand before the beit din when it would perform the mitzva of sanctifying the new moon. The only month before which we do not recite Birkat Ha-ĥodesh is Tishrei. The reason for this is that everyone knows when Rosh Ĥodesh Tishrei is coming, as it is also the holiday of Rosh Ha-shana.[10]
We announce the coming of the new month specifically on Shabbat because that is when the entire congregation is gathered in the synagogue, and everyone will hear when Rosh Ĥodesh is set to take place. Furthermore, all the days of the week receive blessing from Shabbat, and even the sanctity of Rosh Ĥodesh flows from the Shabbat that precedes it. Therefore, we bless the new month on that day. Because of this, on Shabbat Mevarkhim we already begin to feel the festiveness of the forthcoming Rosh Ĥodesh.[11]
[10] mb 417:1 and Igrot Moshe, oĥ 1:142. Sefer Rosh Ĥodesh ch. 1 nn. 4-8 quotes Yerei’im, Shibolei Ha-leket, and Or Zaru’a, which state that we recite Birkat Ha-ĥodesh to let people know when Rosh Ĥodesh is going to take place. Raavya writes that it is in commemoration of the sanctification of the new moon. For this reason, some communities give the rabbi the honor of blessing the new moon (Sefer Rosh Ĥodesh 1:7). What I wrote concerning our omission of Birkat Ha-ĥodesh before Tishrei is found in sht 417:2.).
[11] This is why Ashkenazim refrain from reciting memorial prayers for the dead on Shabbat Mevarkhim (Rema 284:7, mb 284:17). They even omit the Av Ha-raĥamim prayer, which is said in memory of those killed in sanctification of God’s name. The only exceptions are the Shabbatot prior to Rosh Ĥodesh Iyar and Rosh Ĥodesh Sivan, because the holy martyrs were killed mainly during these two months. My teacher and master, Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook, would recite Av Ha-raĥamim even on an ordinary Shabbat Mevarkhim. He maintained that after the Holocaust it should be said on every Shabbat, just like it is said on Shabbat Mevarkhim before Rosh Ĥodesh Iyar and Rosh Ĥodesh Sivan.
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Rabbis in Midrash
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These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
