Mevarchim Hachodesh - Blessing the New Month (Part 8)
“The greatest darkness comes just before dawn –
but most people give up one minute before the light.”
Ba’al Shem Tov
Afterword
A year is composed of twelve individual months. It sounds deceptively simple. But our Sages teach that a year is far more complex than just twelve months. Each month releases its own exclusive spiritual force, and as the months progress, their unique capacities fuse together to establish the Jewish year. Accordingly, the months are not just periods of time that bring us back full circle to the same place we were a year earlier; rather, each month contains enormous possibilities, and the entire year is replete with the potential that each individual month incorporates into it.
To access the spiritual energy that each month generates, we need to allow ourselves to be mindful of its potency. Without proper preparation, our ability to appreciate and internalize what the month has to offer is lacking.
That is why we prelude each month with the beautiful Tefillot of Mevarchim HaChodesh, as a deliberate reminder that we are about to step into a new month, completely different from the one before it, a month with its own singular dynamic and potential. Mevarchim HaChodesh teaches us that, in order to gain maximum benefit month from the approaching month, we need an awareness of the spiritual influence that it has on the entire year.
It is no coincidence, then, that the word for `month - “CHoDeSH” - and the word for new - “CHaDaSH” - are spelled with exactly the same letters (חדש-chet-dalet-shin)! Because each month is something new. Something different. With its potential stretching off into eternity.
As each Mevarchim HaChodesh rolls around, we become exposed - not only to the unlimited potential contained within the forthcoming month - but also to the way that each month connects to the previous month and to the following month; and, all together, the most beautiful mosaic that is our year unfolds.
What are these celestial energies? Beginning with Nissan (because the Torah designates Nissan as the first month of the Jewish year - see for example, Shemot 40:2) Kabbalistic sources teach as follows:
- Nissan is redemption
- Iyar is individual growth
- Sivan is national growth
- Tammuz is foresight and the internalization that only through darkness can light be appreciated
- Av is understanding that within destruction are the seeds of reconstruction
- Elul is preparation and repentance
- Tishrei is renewal
- Cheshvan is reflection
- Kislev is dedicating ourselves to serving Hashem
- Tevet is perseverance and control
- Shevat is unlocking the Divine blessings found within the physical world
- Adar is joy and expectation
And, as we recite Mevarchim HaChodesh, we turn to Hashem and ask for everything that we could possibly want. And by doing so we acknowledge that Hashem is the only Entity that can furnish us with all of our needs and desires.
There is a striking idea attributed to Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), an English poet and painter: “The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank.”
What a sublime moment Mevarchim HaChodesh is! An unparalleled opportunity each month to request whatever our heart’s desire. But also, a moment of reflection. To be thankful that we recognize Who we have to ask it from.
