Chodesh Tov Iyar

Every month of the Jewish calendar highlights unique events in the unfolding story of the Jewish people. The month of Iyar, the second month, is no exception.

The month of Iyar usually coincides with the Gregorian month of May. Iyar is its Babylonian name. The Bible refers to it as ‘the second month’ or ‘chodesh haziv’ (the month of shining or blossoming). There are always two days of Rosh Chodesh Iyar (celebration of the new moon), the first of which is the 30th day of Nisan. Iyar always has 29 days.

Although there are no major biblical or rabbinical holidays in Iyar, there are two minor holidays. Pesach Sheni, the second Pesach, is a mandated make-up day for those who could not bring the paschal sacrifice at its appointed time. Pesach Sheni falls on the 14th of Iyar. Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, is celebrated on the 18th of Iyar.

Two dates commemorating events in Israel’s modern history are celebrated in Iyar. Israel Independence Day is celebrated on the 5th of Iyar, and Jerusalem Day, the day Israel conquered Jerusalem during the Six Day War, is celebrated on the 28th day of Iyar. The 4th of Iyar is marked in Israel as its national memorial day for fallen soldiers (Yom HaZikaron).

On the first day of Iyar, King Solomon began the construction of the First Temple (Kings I:6:1). On the exact same day, hundreds of years later, Ezra began the construction of the Second Temple (Ezra 3:8).

On the first day of Iyar following the exodus, the thirsty Israelites reached a well of bitter water. Moses cast a tree into the water and it miraculously became sweet. God then promised that if Israel followed His ways: “The diseases I have placed on Egypt I will not place upon you, for I am the Lord your Healer.” The Hebrew letters Iyar form an acronym of I am the Lord your Healer, thus Iyar is a propitious time for healing. 

Chodesh Tov!

Chodesh Tov!

Rosh Chodesh Elul, begins at sundown on Friday, 17 August 2012

Moshe had gone up in the Month of Sivan, and returned after forty days and forty nights, on the 17th of Tammuz with the First Luchos. When Moshe observed the Jewish People sinning by creating and worshipping the Golden Calf, and participating in other sinful activities centered around the worship of that idol, he broke that first set of Luchos. He ascended Mount Sinai a second time, on the eighteenth day of Tammuz, the day after the great sin, and remained there for another forty days and forty nights, praying to G-d to spare the Jewish People and to return His full Presence among them.
At the conclusion of the second forty day and forty night period (that is, on the 29th of Av, Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul), G-d forgave the Jewish People and instructed Moshe to ascend Har Sinai yet again the next day, to receive the Second Luchos, on which would be inscribed for the second time the Ten Commandments. Moshe’s ascension to Har Sinai for the third time (which also took forty days and forty nights, ending on Yom Kippur) occurred on Rosh Chodesh Elul.
HaShem also restored His Presence to the Jewish People by authorizing the construction of the "Mishkan," the Temporary Structure which served as a "Residence," so to speak, for the Divine Presence, before the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

Chodesh Tov!

Chodesh tov l'kulam!

The Month of Iyar

It is related in the Prophets (Kings I, 6:1) that King Solomon began the building of the First Temple "in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the House of G-d." The Radak explains: "The month Ziv is the month of Iyar... and it is called Ziv, as our sages explain, because of the splendor of the trees, namely the brilliance of the flowers and buds." Ziv means "splendor" or "brilliance." In this month of "brilliance" King Solomon "began to build the House of G-d."
The two names of the month, Ziv and Iyar (from "or," the primary word in Hebrew for "light"), are indeed two synonyms for "light." They both relate to the special light that shines in this second month of the Jewish calender. In particular, Iyar refers to the light source (or to the light within and proximate to its source), whereas Ziv refers to the expansion of radiant-energy as it shines far from its source. With regard to G-d's Divine light, the Ziv is that radiance which descends from its source to shine on the Jewish soul as enclothed in a physical body on earth, and to awaken in it the desire to build a House for G-d (within the context of physical reality, far removed, as it were, from the source of Divine light).

Chodesh Tov !!

On the15th Nissan ,Pessach, is full moon and we are enabled to find our freedom. In the month of Nissan we begin the journey of our inner freedom.
This Shabbath is Rosh Chodesh Nissan and Shabbath Hachodesh.
This week, we begin reading Sefer Vayikra, (or Torat Kohanim) learning Korbanot to Hashem.

Rosh Chodesh Nissan

"This month shall be for you the beginning of the months...

From The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov:

One who experiences redemption has emerged from darkness into light. One who has never suffered the oppression of bondage, will not appreciate redemption. The very essence of redemption is the freedom which has its source in the bondage itself. Had Israel not been enslaved, they would never have experienced true freedom. Once they were enslaved, that very enslavement gave rise to their redemption. From the midst of that darkness---and from nowhere else light burst forth. Our Sages taught: Israel said to God, "Master of the Universe, when will You redeem us?" God answered: "When you descend to the lowest level---at that moment I shall redeem you."
...this is true of all the troubles and sorrows that the offspring of Ya'akov have suffered throughout history. All of them were transformed into salvation, and the greater the darkness, the greater was the light which followed. This is true of the final redemption as well---its light shall burst forth from the midst of darkness. At the very time when hearts tremble in despair, the glory of God will shine forth. And when will this be? In the month of Nisan, for God has established it as a time of redemption for all generations. Every trial or misfortune which befalls Israel during this month is but an assurance that the redemption is about to begin.
..."This month shall be for you." ...He established a month of redemption---a month in which they would be redeemed from Egypt and a month in which they are ultimately destined to be redeemed....