Perashat Bo 5777

Perashat Bo 5777

In this week’s perasha, Bo, we read about the Yessiat Missrayyim – the Exodus from Egypt.  The perasha also records the first missva given to the Jewish people prior to the Exodus, namely, kiddush haHodesh, the sanctification of the new moon.  The question is asked:  Why was this the first missva given to the Jewish people? 

Mrs. Shoshie Nissenbaum (Naaleh.com) relates that the Seforno notes that it was Boreh Olam himself who gave the Jewish people the power to determine Rosh Hodesh - when the months would begin anew - in contrast to Shabbat, which is built into creation. It was up to Bet Din, the rabbinical court, to interrogate and accept the witnesses who saw the new moon, and then, they would consecrate the month. Rosh Hodesh, the beginning of each month, therefore, represents the energy of hiddush, or renewal.  It signifies rejuvenation, rebirth, and the ability to begin anew. This power was given into our hands. 

In Kohelet, King Solomon says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” The Midrash explains that the verse refers to things under the sun, but not above. Our sages teach us that the Nation of Israel exists “above” nature.  This means that a Jew who is connected to Hashem and His abundant goodness, has the ability to bring hiddush – renewal - into his life. By tapping into the wellsprings of a new month, we make ourselves into a vessel ready to accept renewal, and we can bring freshness and vitality into the rest of the year and into our lives. 

Mrs. Nissenbaum says that, “Renewal is something beyond human intellect. We don’t realize on a day-to-day basis that we’re changing.  But in truth we are given another chance every morning to begin again. Hashem has so much trust in us that he gives us new opportunities every day.” (See the Modeh Ani prayer.)

The famous Hassidic rabbi, the Hiddushei Harim, comments that the Egyptian Exile began because of a lack of hiddush – renewal. The Torah says “Vayakom melekh hadash al Misrayyim” – “A new king arose over Egypt.” The power of hithadshut, of renewing oneself in the service of the Almighty, was taken away from Bene Yisrael by the Egyptians. Therefore, the first step in the redemption was the missva of Kiddush HaHodesh, which restored the power of hithadshut  to the Jewish people. 

This is the basis for what we read in the Passover Haggadah, “Yakhol me’Rosh Hodesh” - “Perhaps we can [engage in the Story of the Exodus] already from Rosh Hodesh [Nisan].” Why would we think it possible to begin fulfilling the missva of Sippur Yessiat Missrayyim - telling over the story of the Exodus - fifteen days earlier? The answer is now obvious; it is the power of hithadshut which began on Rosh Hodesh Nissan that set the redemption in motion, and therefore, the possibility exists of engaging in the retelling of the Exodus as early as that date. 

In Tehillim [142:8], King David asks G-d: “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name…”  G-d yearns for our connection. However, when our speech is confined, when our soul is restricted, expressing the glory of G-d’s name is difficult. This stems from a lack of hithadshut – renewal. The way to get out of that prison is by infusing new vitality into our service of Hashem. This is why Rosh Hodesh was the first missva given to the Jewish people. Just as the moon waxes and wanes, so do we. There are times when we feel full and times when we feel spiritually lacking, but we can fortify ourselves with new strength and begin again at the beginning of each month. 

Our rabbis have taught us that a Jew should always approach his ‘Avodat Hashem – his Service of G-d, with a sense of newness and freshness.  We need to enlist the Almighty’s assistance so that we may always approach Him with the power of hithadshut – freshness and renewal.  We have to trust that we are always capable of making a new start, and that the people around us can too. 

Over the period of the next few weeks, we will be having guest rabbis at Congregation Beit Edmond who will share their knowledge and words of Torah with us and inspire us.  We invite all of you to join us at this time of renewal in order to become acquainted with these rabbis and to draw from their knowledge and become inspired once again in the ways of our Holy Torah.