(Hakhel)
This Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh Nissan is very, very special—especially for women. The Daas Zekainim MiBaalei Tosfos (Shemos 35:24) writes that the reason women were given Rosh Chodesh as a special day for them (to treat it as a Yom Tov– not to do certain work—see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 417) is because they were ‘semaichos u’zehiros’—happy and careful –to donate their jewelry to the Mishkan, whereas their jewelry had to be taken from them against their will for the Eigel HaZahav.
Tosfos notes that the effect of their donations was noticed on this Rosh Chodesh–Rosh Chodesh Nissan—when the Mishkan was established, and that all of the other Rosh Chodoshim of the year are given to women as a Yom Tov because of Rosh Chodesh Nissan. So, especially this coming Rosh Chodesh—plan on making it a special day!
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