Next Shabbos is a very special Shabbos—we will be reading from three Sifrei Torah; (1) the parsha of the week, (2) the section for Rosh Chodesh, and (3) the section for Parshas Hachodesh.
The highlight of this Shabbos is Parshas Hachodesh, where God commands the Jewish nation to prepare for the holiday of Pesach by bringing the Korban Pesach and preparing for the holiday. Our sages tell us that when God took the Jewish nation out of Egypt, they were bare of mitzvahs so the Ribono Shel Olam gave them two mitzvahs: the mitzvah of Korban Pesach and the mitzvah of having a bris. In this merit, we were able to leave Egypt. The question that arises is why did God choose specifically these two mitzvot and what is the message for us today?
As we all know, the mitzvot are divided into two categories, mitzvahs aseh (doing good) representing positive, and sur me rah (distancing oneself from that which is harmful) representing negative. The positive commandment here is represented by the Korban Pesach. For the Egyptians, the sheep was their symbol of idol worship. When the Jewish people were commanded by God to take that sheep and bring it as a sacrifice, they knew the Egyptians would be angry yet they still did as God commanded. This act showed how Am Yisrael distanced themselves from the negative (idol worship) and sacrificed themselves to God.
The mitzvah of having a bris binds a Jew to God and through this the Jewish nation formed a bond with the Almighty. This mitzvah represented the positive—the commitment of a Jew to God.
So, too, was the Exodus from Egypt representing the distancing from the negative and finally, receiving the Torah on Mt. Sinai, the ultimate positive.
The message is clear. Rosh Chodesh is the head of the month which includes all the days of the month and especially the holiday of Pesach, the highlight of this month. We must work in both directions—distancing ourselves from the negative and improving in the positive. We can do so through the three pillars on which the world stands: through extra study of Torah, Avodah (saying Tehillim) and Gemilus Chassadim, giving charity and performing acts of kindness.
Our sages say that our first redemption was in the month of Nisan and the final redemption will be in the month of Nisan. In the merit of improving ourselves, may we witness the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu this Nisan.
By Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky
Executive Director, Bris Avrohom
