(Hakhel) In honor of Rosh Chodesh tomorrow, we provide the following points and pointers relating to Hilchos Rosh Chodesh (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 217 et al.), as excerpted from the Dirshu edition of the Mishna Berurah:
A. One should wear better clothing than usual on Rosh Chodesh. The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’avodah writes that one should wear at least one article of clothing which is more chashuv. The G’ra wore his Shabbos hat on Rosh Chodesh.
Notes: (A) It is a ma’aleh to have special clothing for Rosh Chodesh/Chol HaMoed, as both have more Kedusha than a regular weekday as evidenced by thefour aliyos read on that day, as well as the Korban/Tefillas Mussaf of the day. (B) Fascinatingly, the Karbanos for Musaf on Rosh Chodesh match exactly the Karbanos for the Musaf of the Yom Tov of Pesach and of Shavuos [two parim, one ayil, seven kevasim and one seir].
B. The Mitzvah to be Marbeh B’Seudah on Rosh Chodesh applies to women equally as well, and applies to each day of Rosh Chodesh. See Special Note Two for an important additional point relating to the Seudah. We add that the Steipeler Gaon, Z’tl, would drink a little wine on Rosh Chodesh, and would give the members of his household (including the women) a little wine to drink, explaining that we must honor the day–and that through drinking wine, we demonstrate that the day is a Yom Tov!
C. The Shelah HaKadosh writes that the reason we recite Hallel on Rosh Chodesh is because Dovid HaMelech instituted it B’Ruach HaKodesh regarding Yetziyas Mitzrayim (see also Pesachim 117A). Accordingly, it is recited on all of the Moadim (all of which are Zecher L’Yetziyas Mitzrayim), and on Rosh Chodesh by and through which the Moadim are established. Hakhel Note: We were also of course taught the Mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh–HaChodesh Hazeh Lachem Rosh Chadashim–in Mitzrayim itself!
D. Relating to Hallel:
(1) One should not repeat any Pasuk that it is not the Minhag to repeat–so that it does not appear that one is adding on to Hallel.
(2) If one is behind the tzibur, and they are reciting together either Hodu LaShem or Anah Hashem, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, Shlita, rules that one should continue where he is and not answer together with the tzibur.
(3) HaRav Kanievsky, Shlita, also rules that although one is not permitted to answer Baruch U’Varuch Shemo while reciting Hallel, he can answer “Amen”; however, if one is in the bracha after Hallel of Yehalelucha and the Shatz or someone else finishes the bracha, one should not answer “Amen”, just as one who is in the middle of the bracha of Yishtabach should not answer “Amen” to the Shatz’s conclusion of the very same bracha (see Bi’ur Halacha to Orach Chaim 51:2, d’h Baruch). However, if one completed the particular bracha of Melech Mehulal Batishbachos together with the Shatz, he does answer “Amen” over the Shatz’s bracha (ibid., Mishna Berurah, seif katan 3).
E. Regarding Kiddush Levana, the Mishna Berurah (Orach Chaim 426; seif katan 4) brings the following remarkable quote from the Sefer Magid Meisharim: “Siman Zeh Yiheyeh BeYadecha– BaChodesh Shetevarechu Birkas HaLevana BeMotza’ei Shabbos Timtzeu Hatzlacha–Keep this as a Siman: In a month in which you recite Kiddush Levana on a Motza’ei Shabbos you will find Hatzlacha…!”
Note Two: There is a Halacha relating to Rosh Chodesh (found in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 188:7), which is not well-known. That is, if one is reciting Birchas HaMazon on Rosh Chodesh and realized that he forgot to recite Ya’aleh V’Yavo after he has already recited the brocha of Bonei Yerushalayim, but prior to reciting the brocha of HaTov V’Hameitiv, he is entitled to (and should) add a new, complete bracha to his Birkas Hamazon, which is: “Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech Haolam Asher Nosan Roshei Chodoshim L’Amo Yisroel L’Zikaron–Blessed are You Hashem…Who gave New Moons to His People Israel as a remembrance.” This incredible Halacha (based upon Chazal–Brachos 49A), allows for a fifth brocha in Birkas HaMazon if it is timed just right. Of course, it is better not to forget Yaaleh V’Yavo, but Chazal do allow for one to mend the situation in this way. In fact, there are similar instances where an additional, similar brocha is recited at this point in Birkas HaMazon (between the third and fourth brocha)–for example, if one forgot Retzei on Shabbos, Yaaleh V’Yavo on Yom Tov, etc. The exact text of these Brachos are found in most siddurim at the end of Birkas HaMazon, but the page is typically skipped over as we move through the Siddur. For example, see page 196 of the Artscroll English Siddur (Ashkenaz). From this Halacha relating to Rosh Chodesh, we get a sense of the importance of eating a Seudas Rosh Chodesh–a meal on Rosh Chodesh for which Birkas HaMazon is recited–after all, a new brocha is provided for Rosh Chodesh, just as a new brocha is provided in a similar situation on Shabbos and Yom Tov! In honor of this Halacha, may we suggest that you partake of a fine Rosh Chodesh meal tonight–but remember Ya’aleh V’Yavo!
(Sign up for Hakhel’s daily emails at Hakhel.info.)
Leave a Reply