New Moons

[Torah Keeper]

How do you observe a new moon? Is it a day of worship, according to Isaiah 66:23? But not a day of rest? It seems to me it is a working day, with time set aside for worship. What do you think? And when is it? I think it begins the first sunset after the conjunction.

 

[GedaliahMaegil]

It is Rosh Chodesh. In the Pinchas Torah portion, we read that:

"And on the beginnings of your new moons you bring near an ascending offering to יהוה: two young bulls and one ram, and seven lambs a year old, perfect ones; three-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull; two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram; and one-tenth of an ĕphah of fine flour, mixed with oil, as a grain offering for each lamb, as an ascending offering of sweet fragrance, an offering made by fire to יהוה. And their drink offering is half a hin of wine for a bull, and one-third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is the ascending offering for each new moon throughout the new moons of the year, and one male goat as a sin offering to יהוה is prepared, besides the continual ascending offering and its drink offering." - Bamidbar 28:11-15

In certain halakhot, women would take the day off from certain chores, but there is neither requirement nor mitsvah for a Shabbat rest inherent in the Rosh Chodesh observance. When the Beit HaMiqdash is restored offerings may be given, but there is no such vehicle for offerings to be made, as things stand today.

When the Temple existed, the Beit Din would determine the occurrence of Rosh Chodesh by the testimony of two credible witnesses. Since the 4th century CE, the occurrences were notated on the established calendar. Today, we have even more ways to pinpoint when a new moon happens.

Taking one verse by itself is something I always consider haphazard, as context is missed. Chapter 66 needs to be taken in its entirety.

 

[Acts29]

In the Hebrew scriptures, is there a different word for "month" and "moon," or is the same word used for both every time?

 

[GedaliahMaegil]

In the Hebrew scriptures, is there a different word for "month" and "moon," or is the same word used for both every time?

יֶרַח is the word for "month". It derives from יָרֵחַ , which is the word for "moon". The moon was established in the beginning to distinguish months from each other, while also providing light for the night.