First observed: Torah of New Moon given by God to Moshe in Exodus 12, just before leaving Egypt .
Announcement of Rosh Chodesh
Despite the existence of a fixed calendar, the date of Rosh Chodesh (meaning: head of the month) is still announced in synagogues on the Shabbat prior to its observance. The announcement is made at the conclusion of the Amidah “standing prayers” with a modified version of the Yehi Ratzon ("May it be Your will") "May it be Your will... that You inaugurate us for the month," followed by an announcement of the date and time of the new moon. This announcement is referred to as the molad, or "birth". If Rosh Chodesh occurs on Shabbat, the announcement is made on the preceding Shabbat. Although the molad marks the precise date and time of the new moon, Rosh Chodesh itself may not be observed until several days later to accommodate the observance of other holidays.
Does the moon have any light of it’s own?
1. The moon reflects the light of the sun.
2. The Sun is Messiah and the moon is us, the bride of Messiah .
3. So we are to reflect the light of Messiah onto this dark Earth.
4. The moon is always chasing the sun in a circular path or is it the other
way around, picturing the heavenly love between bride and groom? (Psalm 19:1-6)
5. When they catch up to each other, it is either a total eclipse or a new
moon. (Psalm 81:3-5)
Physical Birth and Spiritual Birth
1. We are all physically born of water. When we believe in Messiah, we are
Spiritually born or “born-again” from above. (John “Yochanan” 3: 1-18)
2. In verse 8, the word for the Spirit in Hebrew is Ruach, the same word for wind.
3. The seasons change and which way do the winds blow.
Spring – from the west.
Summer – from the south.
Fall – from the east.
Winter – from the north.
This is a counter-clockwise motion. This is the cycle of the year. It is a Jewish one that came from Heaven.
4. Exodus 12:1-3 (what was the 7th month from creation that had
become the first month of the year). Nisan “AVIV” 1 is now the
first day of the first month. Also, Tishri 1 is the first day of the
seventh month. However, for counting the years from creation,
we count from Tishri 1.
A Little History Of The New Moon
Rosh Chodesh (means: head of the month) is important as the observable guide to the changing of the months and the seasons. The first month of each biblical year falls on the first New Moon after green barley (Aviv or Nissan) has been found this usually occurs around the beginning of the biblical summer. All of the biblical feasts are dated from this date.
In our observance of Rosh Chodesh, anciently and as many do today, also in the Torah, they use the New Moon sighting as the beginning of the months to determine Rosh haShana (Head of the Year). This leads to a discrepancy between our feast calendar and the Traditional calendar. Sometimes the discrepancy can be as large as twenty-nine days.
Today, a scientific calculation is used to determine the exact timing of the new moon, resulting in the new moon being celebrated when there is no visible moon.
Today, a scientific calculation is used to determine the exact timing of the new moon, resulting in the new moon being celebrated when there is no visible moon.
At some point, Rosh Chodesh had been elevated to the status of Shabbat. No work or buying and selling were done on this day. We can see this by the references of Rosh Chodesh always being related in the same phrase as Shabbat. Also in Amos, written in the eighth-century B.C.E., the writer equates the attitude of the merchants of his day with immorality: "When will the New Moon be over so that we may sell grain? And Shabbat that we may trade wheat?" Rosh Chodesh was later viewed with less importance than Shabbat, the prohibition against ordinary work and trade being lifted.
Ancient Observation
The Jewish month is based on the seeing the new moon. When two persons saw the new moon they would come to the Jewish High Court and give testimony that they had seen the moon. This did not mean that the court did not know when the moon was scheduled to appear, but rather that the sanctification of the moon had to be made according to eyewitness reports. The court would question the witnesses to ascertain that they indeed did see the moon. Afterwards, the court proclaimed that a new month had begun.
"During the existence of the Second Temple, the calendar was regulated by the testimony of witnesses. The Sanhedrin, the supreme court in Jerusalem, consisting of seventy-one members, sent witnesses for the specific purpose of observing the first appearance of the new moon. After the witnesses were examined, and their testimony accepted by the court, the judges would hold a special ceremony of announcing the new month. The president of the court would say: "The new month is proclaimed," and all present would repeat, "Proclaimed, proclaimed!"
On that evening fires were kindled on the highest peak near Jerusalem to signal nearby villages to notify those in more distant settlements. Thus the news was carried to all the residents of Palestine (Israel). Even the Jews of Babylonia were informed by relays of torches and bonfires. The following day was celebrated as Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the month."
This method, however, was very susceptible to the whims of impostors who, for some reason, would light signal fires on nights that were not new moons. This created confusion and chaos in distant areas that did not have runners from Jerusalem.
Rosh Chodesh is celebrated for either one or two days traditionally, reminiscent of the days when extra time was needed for runners and signal fires to reach distant areas. Traditionally, one day is observed when the previous month has only twenty-nine days. But when the previous month has thirty days, observance is for two days, the last day of the previous month as well as the first day of the new month. Some of the more orthodox treat the day before Rosh Chodesh as a day in which to fast and seek atonement.
Ancient Observation
The Jewish month is based on the seeing the new moon. When two persons saw the new moon they would come to the Jewish High Court and give testimony that they had seen the moon. This did not mean that the court did not know when the moon was scheduled to appear, but rather that the sanctification of the moon had to be made according to eyewitness reports. The court would question the witnesses to ascertain that they indeed did see the moon. Afterwards, the court proclaimed that a new month had begun.
"During the existence of the Second Temple, the calendar was regulated by the testimony of witnesses. The Sanhedrin, the supreme court in Jerusalem, consisting of seventy-one members, sent witnesses for the specific purpose of observing the first appearance of the new moon. After the witnesses were examined, and their testimony accepted by the court, the judges would hold a special ceremony of announcing the new month. The president of the court would say: "The new month is proclaimed," and all present would repeat, "Proclaimed, proclaimed!"
On that evening fires were kindled on the highest peak near Jerusalem to signal nearby villages to notify those in more distant settlements. Thus the news was carried to all the residents of Palestine (Israel). Even the Jews of Babylonia were informed by relays of torches and bonfires. The following day was celebrated as Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the month."
This method, however, was very susceptible to the whims of impostors who, for some reason, would light signal fires on nights that were not new moons. This created confusion and chaos in distant areas that did not have runners from Jerusalem.
Rosh Chodesh is celebrated for either one or two days traditionally, reminiscent of the days when extra time was needed for runners and signal fires to reach distant areas. Traditionally, one day is observed when the previous month has only twenty-nine days. But when the previous month has thirty days, observance is for two days, the last day of the previous month as well as the first day of the new month. Some of the more orthodox treat the day before Rosh Chodesh as a day in which to fast and seek atonement.
Rosh Chodesh In Scripture
Genesis 1:14-19 | Creation | 6,000 years ago |
Exodus 12:1-2 | Exodus from | Nearly 4,000 years ago |
Numbers | Trumpet | 1400 B.C.E. |
Numbers 28:11-15 | Additional Sacrifices | 1400 B.C.E. |
1st Samuel 20:1-43 | David & Jonathan | 1020 B.C.E. |
1st Chronicle 23:25-32 | Levites praise | 1000 B.C.E. |
2nd Chronicle 2:1-6 | Solomon's house | 950 B.C.E. |
2nd Kings 4:8-37 | Elisha and boy | 850 B.C.E. |
Isaiah 66:15-24 | Future worship | 780 B.C.E. |
Amos 8:4-5 | No buying or selling | 770 B.C.E. |
2nd Chronicle 31:2-10 | Hezekiah | 727 B.C.E. |
Ezekial 46:1-7 | Future worship | 570 B.C.E. |
Ezra 3:1-6 | 1st day of 7th month | 460 B.C.E. |
Nehemiah 10:1, 29-40 | Don't neglect the Temple | 445 B.C.E. |
Psalm 81:1-3 | Blow the trumpet | |
Colossians 2:16-17 | Shadow of things to come |
