Rosh chodesh Adar

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Marbim Besimcha:[1]

One is to increase in joy throughout the month of Adar.[2] [Hence one is to rejoice himself, his wife and children during this month, similar to the Mitzvah of rejoicing them on Yom Tov.[3] Included in this Mitzvah is increasing in all matters that give one joy.[4] However foremost, one is to add in spiritual matters of joy such as to increase in learning Torah,  in particular the inner dimension of Torah, and the scrupulous observance of Mitzvos.[5]]

 

Q&A

Does one increase in Simcha on the first day of Rosh Chodeshwhich is the 30th of Shevat?[6]

Yes. However the main increase of joy is on the second day of Adar, which is after a full day of the month of Adar has passed.

 

During a leap year does the Mitzvah to increase in joy apply to both months of Adar?

See next Chapter in First Halacha!

 

Dancing every night of Adar:

Many Chabad Yeshivas have the custom of dancing each night of the month of Adar, in light of the command of the Sages to increase in joy during this month.

 

Increasing in Simcha every day, even after Purim:[7]

One is to add in Simcha on every day of the month of Adar. This includes even the days after Purim, in which one is to increase his joy from one day to the next.[8] This is especially true in light of the fact that one is coming closer to the redemption of Pesach, and hence is approximating one redemption to the next.[9]

 

Sparks of Chassidus

What does the word Adar stand for?[10]

The Alef represents Alufo Shel Olam, which refers to Hashem. The word Dar means to live. In the month of Adar we are able to accomplish that Hashem dwell below in this world and fulfill Dirah Betachtonim.

 

Court case:[11]

One is to endeavor to have a court case involving a non-Jew arranged for the month of Adar.[12]

 

Rosh Chodesh Checklist & Reminders

General Laws:

  • Work/Sewing/Laundry: Women refrain from work on Rosh Chodesh. Avoid sewing and laundry
  • Cutting nails, hair: Do not cut the hair [of the head] or nails on Rosh Chodesh. If Rosh Chodesh falls on Erev Shabbos one who cuts his nails every Erev Shabbos may do so now as well.
  • Eat a festive meal: One is to have a festive meal on the day [not night] of Rosh Chodesh. It is best to wash on bread for this meal. One must eat or drink something before midday of Rosh Chodesh.
  • Increase in charity
  • Avoid visiting a cemetery
  • Learning Tehillim: Learn a verse from the chapter of Tehillim that corresponds to your age with the commentary of Rashi. Arrange to learn a certain amount of verses each Rosh Chodesh so by the concluding year of age one will have learned all of his verses on Rosh Chodesh with the commentary of Rashi.

     

    Davening:

  • A mourner does not Daven for the Amud
  • Yaleh Veyavo in Davening: Recite Yaaleh Veyavo in Maariv, Shacharis and Mincha. We do not announce Yaaleh Veyavo prior to Maariv or Shacharis. If one forgot to recite it by Maariv, Shemoneh Esrei is not required to be repeated, although one may do so as a Toras Nedava. By Shacharis and Mincha Shemoneh Esrei must be repeated. By Shacharis, if one only remembered that he forgot Yaaleh Veyavo after Davening Musaf, he is not to repeat Shemoneh Esrei. If one is in doubt whether he said Yaaleh Veyavo by Shacharis or Mincha, one is to complete the Shemoneh Esrei and repeat Shemoneh Esrei again as a Nidava.
  • Hallel: Recite a blessing before and after Hallel even if Davening in private. When Davening with a Minyan many are accustomed to say the blessing to themselves together with the Chazan, or directly before or afterwards. Hallel may be recited anytime throughout the day, until Tzeis Hakochavim. Nevertheless place effort to Daven on pace with the Minyan so one can recite Hallel with the congregation. Stand throughout the recital of Hallel. Recite the verse of Avraham Zakein three times at the conclusion of Hallel.
  • Recite Kaddish Tiskabel after Hallel.
  • Recite Shir Shel Yom, Hoshieinu and Barchi Nafshi. Beis Yaakov and Tehila Ledavid are omitted.
  • Torah reading: Read four Aliyos from the Torah after Barchi Nafshi.
  • Recite Ashreiy and Uva Letziyon. Omit Lamnatzeiach. The Chazan does not conclude aloud the end of Uva Letziyon. Return the Torah to the Ark after Uva Letziyon.
  • Musaf: Wear Rabbeinu Tam before Musaf. Remove all Tefillin before Kaddish of Musaf. The Chazan is to recite a Psalm before Kaddish of Musaf. One recites Keser in Kedusha.
  • Recite Lamnatzeiach in Tehillim after Davening.
  • Shabbos Rosh Chodesh: Recite Yaaleh Veyavo in Shemoneh Esrei of Maariv, Shacharis and Mincha. In Musaf recite Ata Yatzarta. Remove two Torah scrolls for the Torah reading and reading the Maftir and Haftorah from Rosh Chodesh. If the next day is also Rosh Chodesh, read the first and last verse of Machar Chodesh after the Haftorah of Rosh Chodesh.

 

Bentching:

  • Yaaleh Veyavo in Bentching: Recite Yaleh Veyavo in Bentching. If began eating before Rosh Chodesh and is Bentching on Rosh Chodesh, then if ate Kezayis at night, recite Yaaleh Veyavo. If began eating on Rosh Chodesh and is Bentching at night after Rosh Chodesh, recite Yaaleh Veyavo unless already Davened Maariv.
  • Don’t repeat Bentching if forgot Yaaleh Veyavo. If remember before beginning “Baruch ..Hatov Vihameitiv” recite the blessing of Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech Haolam Shenasan Roshei Chodoshim Leamo Yisrael Lezikaron”.
  • Migdol: Recite Migdol instead of Magdil in the Harachaman’s.

[1] Magen Avraham 686/5 based on Gemara Taanis 29a

Why was this law omitted by the Michaber? See Chasam Sofer 160; Nimukeiy Orach Chaim 687 as for why this law was not mentioned by the Rambam or Michaber. The Rebbe explains that perhaps the reason the Rambam omitted this law is because he rules one must be in a state of joy throughout the entire year. This is in contrast to the opinion of the Talmud which states only by Adar that one is to increase in joy, hence implying that it is not proper to have extra joy during other months of the year. [Igros Kodesh 27/114] Alternatively the reason is because there is no action involved in this Mitzvah to increase of joy, as it is merely an addition in one’s feeling, and hence the Rambam did not feel a need to bring it. [Hisvadyos 1991 2 p. 300 Edited]

The comparison to the month of Av: The Gemara ibid states that “just like as Av enters one diminishes in Simcha, similarly when Adar enters one must increase in Simcha.” Regarding the reason for this comparison-see Shaareiy Hamoadim Adar p. 29. In Likkutei Sichos 16/345 the Rebbe explains that just like the entire month of Av is instinctively a month of sadness and mourning and due to this nature this month was allocated to host the bad occurrences, similarly the month of Adar is intrinsically meritorious and it is for this reason that it merited to host the miracles of Purim.

[2] The M”A ibid writes based on the Gemara ibid “When Adar enters one is to increase in joy”. The Ashel Avraham Butchach 686 Mahadurah Tinyana writes this Mitzvah applies throughout the month of Adar. See Likkutei Sichos 16/345 brought in previous footnote.

The reason: Rashi [on Taanis 29a] explains that the reason for increasing in joy in Adar is due to the miracles that occurred on Purim and Pesach. The Rebbe [Likkutei Sichos 16/345] explains Rashi to mean that the entire month is a meritorious month for the Jewish people due to the fact that Moshe Rabbeinu was born on this month, and it is due to his merit that we merited the miracles of Purim and Pesach. This is why Rashi also mentioned Pesach in his explanation. Shieilas Yaavetz 2/88 explains the reason for mentioning Pesach is because this shows that the miracles continued for two months and hence we increase in joy in Adar and not Chanukah, as by Chanukah the miracles were for only one month.

The month of Nissan: Some Poskim write one is also to increase in joy in the month of Nissan. [Elya Raba 685/8; Chasam Sofer 160 based on Rashi Taanis 29a; See Likkutei Sichos 16 p. 344 brought in previous footnote]

[3] Sefer Hasichos 1992 p. 391

[4] Nimukeiy Orach Chaim 687; Likkutei Sichos 4/1274 [Such as planting trees of Kings for shade and the like-ibid]; Likkutei Sichos 16/345 [Its not specifically adding in feasts and merry making, but any type of Simcha]

[5] Sefer Hasichos 1992 p. 391

[6] Shaareiy Moadim Adar 1 p. 20

Shabbos Mevarchim Adar: On a number of occasions the Rebbe stated that one is to begin increasing in joy from Shabbos Mevarchim Adar. [Hisvadyos 1991 p. 300; See Otzer Minhagei Chabad 17]

[7] Likkutei Sichos 4 p. 1274

[8] As if one were to have the same amount of joy each day then it would become habitual and common, thus losing its enthusiasm. This is similar to the requirement to have “Panim Chadashos” by each Sheva Brachos as otherwise the joy begins to become stale. [ibid]

[9] Sichas Shabbos Para 5731

[10] Meor Eiynayim [Rav Nachum of Chernobyl] Parshas Teruma

[11] M”A 686/5; Mishneh Berurah 686/8; Yerushalmi Megillah 4/1

[12] The reason: The reason for this is because the Jewish Mazal shines in this month. [Yerushalmi ibid; Ritva ibid]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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