Rosh Chodesh

A quiet Yom Kippur

In tribute to Rabbi Aharon Ankri zts"l, killed in a car accident several days ago.

Everything they taught us in kindergarten is still true

Do you remember what we learned in kindergarten about Kislev and about the holiday of Chanukah?

Matan Rosh Hodesh Kislev Torah Essay:

Making a bracha on a minhag - rules and exceptions

Two exceptions to the rule of not making a bracha on a minhag occur this month.

Matan Rosh Hodesh Elul Torah Essay:

Moving away from Churban and toward Rosh Hashannah

The seven prophecies of consolation guide us every year from crisis to renewal, to restored pride, joy and dignity.

For Rosh Chodesh Elul: What are you here for?

"What am I here for?" is a question that every Jew should ask themselves every day and every year, and reinforced during the month of Elul, and even more so on Rosh Chodesh Elul 2024.

Touching:

Thousands attended the festive Rosh Chodesh prayer in Evyatar

Thousands attended the Rosh Chodesh prayer in Evyatar. Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu said: 'This place is the counsel of the Lord'. Yossi Dagan: 'There will be many more Evyatasrs in Samaria!'

Moving:

Women pray at site of music festival massacre

Women held a special prayer service in the Re'im forest, where Hamas terrorists murdered hundreds of festival goers on October 7th.

Matan Iyar Emunah Essay:

There is hope - Hatikvah

We are a people who hope. Always.

Rosh Hodesh Iyar Torah Essay

Kabbalistic and Hassidic literature delineate the journey of a person counting the Omer.

Matan Rosh Chodesh essay: Nissan and Redemption

The future deliverance can be viewed as “a redemption of correction,” perfecting the initial one.

Rosh Chodesh Essay: This year, we are all Esther

Esther teaches us that when the nation faces an existential threat, the rules of pikuach nefesh change. Megillat Esther helps us understand how Jewish law views the sacrifice of our soldiers.

Rosh Hodesh Adar I Torah Essay: Uniforms

The Sages demonstrate that clothing – in the megilla and Tanach in general – is more than just an external aesthetic. It is a catalyst for, and a window into, the spiritual state of a person. And so are our brave soldiers' uniforms.

Rosh Hodesh Shevat Torah Essay: The power of growth

Tu Bishvat is celebrated at the height of winter: when the trees are bare, and it takes enormous hope and faith to believe that the fruit will come. But they will.

Rosh Hodesh Tevet Torah Essay

Our generation did not merit a prophecy that explains what unleashed God’s terrible wrath in the midst of our chag. However, we can learn.

A Rosh Chodesh prayer for our nation and its soldiers

Over a month since the Simchat Torah massacre, since the tragic loss of so many. And the IDF is avenging their murders, with G-d's help.

Yom Kippur Katan, straight from the Kabbalists of Tzfat

The source of the prayers on the day before Rosh Chodesh. Chodesh tov!

Matan's Rosh Chodesh Essay: The month of Cheshvan

These very days, Am Yisrael feels God’s hand in the cruel war that was launched against us.

The Daily Portion / Five elements of Rosh Chodesh Elul

This month is identified with a desire for self-improvement and change. The shofar blown each morning is a wakeup call.

Rosh Chodesh Elul Torah Essay: Psalm for the month

Among the customs for this month in which we get ready for the New Year, is the reciting of a specific psalm. Why?

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz Torah essay:Stopping the sun

During Tammuz, when the summer sun is strong, we must pause and consider our awareness of God’s presence in our seemingly natural lives.

The Daily Portion / 5 aspects of the new month of Iyar

The month of Iyar possesses a special quality unique among all the months of the year. What is it?

Rosh Chodesh Iyar Torah Essay

There is something deep going on this month, something that touches on the character of the Jewish people and our relationship with God.

Rosh Chodesh Nissan Torah Essay

When you look to the moon, she will teach you how to shine in this world, in this relationship with HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

Shabbat Hachodesh: Nation of Royalty

It is significant that our first national mitzvah was to take control of our time starting with the new year of kings.

Rosh Chodesh Adar Torah Essay: Sharing joy

What do Chazal exactly want from us this month when they tell us to be happy? And why?

Tevet in its totality

Rosh Hodesh Tevet Torah Essay,

The essence of Light: Miketz, Hanukkah, and Rosh Chodesh Tevet:

This year 5783, as occurs about one-third of the time, Shabbat Parashat Miketz falls on Rosh Chodesh Tevet which is on Hanukkah..And...

Parashat Re’eh and Rosh Chodesh Elul 5782

There are many proofs that God exists, but I will report on a particular one that caught my attention, and its relation to the present..

Rosh Hodesh Tammuz Torah Essay: Five calamities

The 5 events on the 17th of Tammuz are tied together by the astute explanation given by Rabbi Norman Lamm.z"l on why synagogues fail.

Oh, the fear

We got t hrough the rikudgalim of Jerusalem Liberation Day and we are still here, prophets of doom notwithstanding.

Rosh Hodesh Nissan Torah Essay: Taking control of time

Wouldn't the mitzva to love one's neighbor be a suitable first commandment to the Jewish people? Why the establishment of the new month?

Israel's first Chief Rabbi:

Parashat Hachodesh: When will Mashiach come?

There are two ways to achieve emotional growth, the Tishrei or the Nisan mode. See the Chatam Sofer on this..Which will bring Mashiach?

Rosh Hodesh Torah Essay: Imitatio Dei and reciprocal love

Hashem expresses a double name and the names of a few characters in Tanakh are doubled as well. There is a pattern of meaning here.

Rosh Chodesh Adar: How's life? Enjoy it!

In the month of Adar, we have an opportunity to connect with simple joy, to rejoice in just being alive.

Rosh Hodesh Shevat Torah Essay

On the 1st of the month of Shevat, we must take a look at the historical biblical event that transpired on this day thousands of years ago.

Rosh Hodesh Kislev Torah essay

Hanukkah is coming, the story reminding us that in the past, we have become enamoured with our own power and too secure in our position.

For Rosh Chodesh:The contrasting month of Av

The month of Av becomes the Comforted month of Av, Menachem Av, similar to the term "lenachem aveilim" used during shiva..

Chodesh Tov - have a good new month

On Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, take care to plan to have a good month in your thoughts, speech and actions, accept both compliments and criticism..

Rosh Hodesh Shevat Torah essay

We must learn to 'pay it forward', realizing that many of the fruits of our labor won’t be ripe for years.

Why does the month of Mar-Cheshvan have two names?

Chodesh tov! Today is the first day of a new Hebrew month which has two names. Why? And another question: Why isn't life fair?

Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av Torah essay

What do we want to return to in Megillat Eicha?

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz Torah Essay: Sitting with broken hearts

“There is nothing more whole than a broken heart” -Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk.

Women of the Wall: Grave concern for our well-being

WOW request police protection ahead of Rosh Chodesh prayers this Wednesday.

A riddle for tomorrow, the third of Tevet

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan Torah essay

How could WOW leave the Torah in the bathroom?

Watch: Hundreds at Western Wall for Rosh Chodesh prayers

Education Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz among the worshipers. 'We are truly living in a special generation.'

Listen: Mendy Shapiro's single celebrating the new Jewish month

Ahead of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, producer Moti K and Mendy Shapiro released song about Jewish month of Kislev.

'Women of the Wall sang loudly and disrupted our prayers'

Woman whose prayers were disrupted by Women of the Wall at the Kotel wonders why police make arrests at Netiv Ha'avot but not at the Kotel.

Preparing for mass ascent to Mount of Olives

Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives prepares for large groups of visitors, with hundreds expected to visit.

Report: Women of the Wall bring 'dancer' to the Kotel

Radical feminist group came Monday morning to the Kotel, as they do every Rosh Chodesh, along with a 'dancer', witness says.

600 Jews encircle the Temple Mount in prayer

Revived 1,000-year-old tradition gets a boost with hundreds of French seminary girls, holding Jewish new month prayers at each gate.

The Other Side to Rosh Hashanah

Saved from the Stabbing Thanks to Rosh Chodesh Prayers

Shmuel, who works right by the site of the Tel Aviv attack, tells Arutz Sheva he arrived moments after thanks to Jewish new month prayers.

Police Warn Jewish Children for Bowing on Temple Mount

Jewish children split up to avoid angering Muslim worshipers. Tour guides say they were threatened with arrest.

Police Ignore Girl Attacked, Injured By Rock Throwing Arabs

Arab thugs stoned and attacked with bricks and bottles a group of Jewish girls, whose “crime” was walking atop the walls of the Old City