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So What's new?
Today marks the first day of the month of Shevat. Shevat begins today because the new moon was born yesterday. Every month of the Jewish calendar begins with the birth of the new moon. In fact, the Hebrew word for month is chodesh when vowelized slightly different as chadash it means new. This is understood by the fact that the month begins with the new moon. If HaShem designed His world that every month begins with the renewal of the moon then we must understand that there is an energy of renewal in the beginning of each Jewish month.
We have introduced this notion in previous newsletters, that the physical world mirrors the spiritual world. So that if we find renewal in the physical world there is energy of renewal in the spiritual world as well. If only we could identify where that renewal occurs how fortunate we would be! Imagine being able to tap in to the source of renewal on a monthly basis, what strength we could draw from that! So much of our lives seem to grind into a monotonous hum drum that is void of meaningfulness. It is not uncommon for people to experience a mid-life crisis. At the beginning of their career they were driven with a fresh passion to accomplish and achieve and after they accomplished and achieved they look back and wonder where that passion of youth had gone. And so they undertake a new journey to find meaning. How fortunate would be the one who knew how to renew himself every month. To rejuvenate himself, to invigorate his drive and refresh his passion, such a person would forever be fresh and joyful, energetic and young.
This week as we read the Parsha of Bo, we discover where the source of this renewal lies. HaShem tells Moshe to instruct the Jewish people as follows; "This renewal of the moon shall be to you the beginning of the New Moons, it shall be to you the first of the months of the year." Let us note the seemingly extra words "to you". If the point of this command was to identify the month of Nissan (this command was said on the first day of the month of Nissan) as the first month of the year, the words to you are of no consequence.
Our Sages teach us the implication of this verse is that the renewal of this moon, referring to the actual renewing of the moon's light, is to be to you, namely, this renewal will find its source in you. The secret of renewal lies in the essence of the Jewish people. The source of renewal lies deep inside every Jew.
My circle of people with whom I interact includes many older folks. I have noticed a fascinating observation. Many people as they retire and find themselves with less responsibilities and more time on their hands they spend more time studying Torah and become intellectually and spiritually more engaged in Torah than they were before. These were people who before they retired spent less time studying Torah because of their responsibilities. Effectively, their retirement allowed them to become more engaged in their intellectual pursuit. On the other hand many people as they retire and their responsibilities wane so does their interest in being engaged wane. The difference lies in the ability to rejuvenate.
This mitzvah of establishing our calendar on the lunar cycle of renewal is the first mitzvah we received as a nation. Although we already had the mitzvah of circumcision from Avrohom, nevertheless that mitzvah was inherited. This mitzvah was the first mitzvah to be communicated to us. In other words, our relationship with HaShem in the context of HaShem entrusting us with carrying out His Will was expressed in the mitzvah that instills in our very core the ability of renewal.
Let us take this lesson one step further. In the physical model, the moon's renewal is not an actual renewal of that heavenly body but rather it is a renewal of moon's reflection of the sun's radiance. The renewal that we observe and use to mark our calendar is a renewal of the moon's relationship to the sun.
The source of renewal is not a self generated phenomenon but one that is based on a realignment to the source of all energy, HaShem.
How truly fortunate we are, to be the source of renewal with every month bringing us the opportunity to always find fresh insight and meaning in our ever developing relationship with HaShem.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
