Ex.10:1-13:16
Précis: God sends additional plagues (locusts and darkness) and alerts Moses that the 10th and final plague will follow. God instructs Moses on the institution of the Passover. Then, the final plague, the death of the first born, is wrecked upon Egypt. The Israelites, accompanied by the “mixed multitudes,” leave Egypt, carrying with them the “spoils of Egypt” given to them by the Egyptians.
As is noted in the Stone Edition of the Chumash, the first 28 verses of this chapter interrupt the narrative of the Exodus in the prior and following chapters, providing commandments for the new moon (Rosh Chodesh), the initial Pesach offering and the general laws of Pesach.
Of significant import, this verse is the very first commandment given to the nation as a whole, which underscores the importance of the observance of Rosh Chodesh, without which the observance of so many rituals would be impossible.
We can look at this importance in two different ways, both historically and symbolically. Historically, Rosh Chodesh was the key to the Jewish lunar-based calendar. Each of the 12 lunar months are 29 or 30 days, a total adding up to 354. They insertion of a leap month on occasion keeps the holiday schedules appropriate, such that Passover is always in the spring, and Rosh Hashanah is always in the fall.
During Temple times, Rosh Chodesh could only be proclaimed by a rabbinic court, based upon observation of the moon’s cycle. Because word of the decree could not reliably reach Jews in the Diaspora in a timely fashion, the custom developed outside of Israel to observe the holy days for an additional day, to assure that the observance took place on the correct date. (The exception to the disparity was for Rosh Hashanah, since it takes place on the first day of the month. Therefore, that holiday was and is observed for two days in both Israel and most of the Diaspora). The custom of a “second day” has remained in effect in most traditional communities in the Diaspora.
According to tradition, a Sanhedrin in Judea headed by Hillel Ha-Nasi (not to be confused with the Hillel of the Talmud) issued a written calendar in 358-359 CE which was widely followed. Others suggest that Sadia Gaon (in Sura, Babylonia) was actually responsible for the first truly accepted calendar in 921-2 CE, which has served us since that time.
Symbolically, the importance of Rosh Chodesh is actually much more important. Just as the moon disappears at the end of each month, but returns and grows to fullness, so the Jewish People suffer exile and decline, but are renewed because of the Covenant between God and Israel.
There is inherent hope in the observance of Rosh Chodesh and its promise of renewal. May this hope sustain us during these most difficult days of war, and may it provide additional hope for the release of our hostages and their safe return to their families.
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