Rabbi B - What is Rosh Chodesh?

[Music] What is roesh? [Music] Kodesh means month. It comes from the word khadash meaning new and ro is head. So ro kodesh is the first day or head of the new month. How do we know when Rosh kodesh is? We know when Rosh hodes is by following the cycle of the moon. The English word month even comes from the word moon. Hashem made it take the moon between 29 and 30 days to go around the earth one time. That's why some months have 29 days and others have 30 days. When the moon is new, its dark side faces us, so we can't see it. Then, as the month goes on, the moon starts to wax, meaning it starts to reflect more and more sunlight onto us, and we start to see the moon get fuller. It looks the most full when we are at the exact middle of the month, the 15th day. Then, as the month gets closer to its end, the moon starts to wne, meaning it gets darker and darker until it goes fully dark again. And now it's a new moon again and the start of a new month. We celebrate Roshesh by singing halal songs to Hashem to thank him for all the good he does for us. We add an extra amida called musaf and we add yalevo in our benching and davening. After about a week, we also say another special prayer called kdush lavana, thanking Hashem for the moon and for all of Hashem's blessings. So the next time you see the moon, try to figure out if the moon is waxing, getting bigger and brighter, or waning, getting smaller and darker. And that would tell you what day of the month it is. Kodeshto. [Music] Welcome to rabb.org, your one-stop shop for everything Rabbi B. On my site, you can find out more about me, watch the latest video, or check out past episodes. Check out all of Rabbi Bee's books, albums, upcoming concerts, and events. I even have activities and coloring pages, too. Easily contact me with a question, comment, or just to say hi. And you can do all that with the comfort and safety of one website, rabb.org. Let's make being Jewish fun and exciting. [Music]