Για να το διαβάσετε στα Ελληνικά, κάντε κλικ εδώ
This week, in addition to the weekly Torah portions Vayakhel-Pekude, we read the Parashat Hachodesh, which globally speaks about the Pesach Offering. But in the beginning, it speaks about the month of Nisan, and teaches us that it is the first month of the year. This is strange. Why do we say that Nisan is the first month, while we all know that the year starts in the month of Tishri, on Rosh Hashana?
Chasidut explains that Rosh Hashana, in the month of Tishri, commemorates the beginning of Creation (Creation started on the 25 of Elul until the 1st of Tishri, which was the 6th day of Creation and the day the human being was created). On the other hand, the month of Nisan is significant because this is when the Jews left Egypt and became the People of Israel, through many miracles.
The month of Tishri symbolizes the nature, and the month of Nisan symbolizes what is beyond nature. This explains why we have two New Years, one in Tishri and one in Nisan. Each one of these months starts something else, Tishri gives us the power of the nature, and Nisan gives us the power of the supernatural. We count the months from the month of Nisan because the birth of the Jewish People occurred during this month in a supernatural way, with the miracles of the Exodus.
How does this relate to us? In our everyday lives, there are many things which may seem difficult to us, in the study of the Torah or the observance of certain Mitzvot. It seems that they do not fit with us or with our surroundings etc. We need to remember that we have inside us the strength to overcome these difficulties, to rise above the physical limitations. Our essence as Jews, in the same way as the birth of our people, is beyond nature.
Let us utilize this special strength to fulfill our mission in this world, to make it a fitting “residence” for G-d.
Shabbat Shalom!
Arie from the Yeshiva
