The New Month of Nissan

Rabbi Shraga Simmons teaches that Rosh Chodesh Nissan -- the first day of Nissan -- is one of the most significant days in Jewish history. It was then, in Egypt, that G*d gave the first mitzvah to the Jewish people -- the mitzvah of declaring the new moon and sanctifying the new month. For 2,448 years, G*d did so Himself, but now He entrusted the honor and responsibility to the Jewish people.
Why is this mitzvah so significant? Because it shows that we have the ability (and responsibility) to sanctify our lives and the passage of time. With this power to change and determine physical reality, we thereby become partners in the ongoing process of creation.

In Rabbi Abraham Twerski's Growing Each Day series he says of the 1st of Nissan,
This month shall be unto you the first of the months (Exodus 12:2).
The Jewish calendar has two New Years. Rosh Hashanah, the first day of Tishrei, which marks the beginning of the calendar year, is a day of judgment, signifying that we are held accountable for our behavior. The first day of Nissan marks the beginning of the month of our liberation from Egypt, an event which teaches us that God watches us, that He cares about us, and that even distressful experiences, such as the bitter enslavement in Egypt, are part of a Divine master plan.

Six months separate the two New Years. The personal inventory and the analysis of our mistakes and character defects which we do during the solemn days of Tishrei are very sobering tasks. On the other hand, realizing that we hold a lofty status as children of G*d and that we are constantly under His vigilance, which is emphasized in Nissan, is exhilarating and elating. Both attitudes are indeed essential, but if one tries to achieve them simultaneously, one may end up in a state of confusion.

In the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon points out that we should dedicate appropriate times in life for conflicting acts and attitudes. He says, "There's a time to plant and a time to uproot" (3:2), and "There is a time to cry and a time to laugh" (3:4), etc. A healthy adjustment to life is a delicate balancing act. With proper learning and guidance, we can learn to determine appropriate times for what we are supposed to do.

Today I shall ...
... give thought to scheduling my hours and days, so that I can achieve a healthy balance of diverse attitudes.

Below is a teaching from Melinda Ribbner's Kabblah of the Heart site, remember beloved that the joy is in the journey. We are embarking on a whole new mindset, leaving behind our old ways of thinking and relating. We all want to make changes in our life, as the old Hebrew expression goes, "Even the journey of one thousand kilometers begins with a first step." Next year in Jerusalem!!! Elisheva

"Greetings and blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem, the most beautiful, the most vibrant, the most compassionate and loving city in the world. A little more than a week ago, I impulsively booked a ticket to Israel and zoom in a short amount of time, I am in a new reality. As soon I got off the plane, I am immediately hit by the intense energy and powerful blessings a person receives by simply being here physically. I am also struck by all the joy I see in the smiles, and laughter I hear on the streets and in the buses.

When we hear of terrorist attacks occuring in the land of Israel, people living out of the land of Israel wonder how the Jewish people living in Israel are able to live so joyfully and productively when confronted with enemies within and outside of their borders.Does it get to them? I know that I have wondered from time to time what the long time impact of living with these kind of challenges have placed on people. To me, the people I know who have chosen to live in Israel are not bitter, narrow-minded or even angry as a result; rather, they are more refined, more joyful and open hearted than people in other places. It came to me during the most exquisite beautiful Friday night " davening" this past Shabbat, that to live in Israel a person needs great faith and trust in HaShem. Because faith is a necessity here, it is thankfully plentiful. It seemed to me during the davening that faith pours down abundantly like rain upon the people whose hearts are open to receive this divine gift. Faith is what enables us to be hopeful, optimistic, creative, loving and joyful, no matter what is happening to us, no matter where we are. Faith is something that we all need to develop and strengthen but it is ultimately a gift. I encourage everyone to come to Israel as often as possible, if it is not proper to live here to bear witness to what it is to live with faith. I came this time to Israel to attend a girlfriend's wedding, Mazel Tov to Helaine and Yitzchok, but deep inside me was also the call for renewal within me. What better place to do this opening and healing than in Israel during the month of Nissan.

The Torah says this about Nissan, " This month shall be for you the head of the months, it is the first for you of the months of the year." ( Exodus 12:2) Whatever is the first is the most beloved, the most precious, with the greatest benefit and impact. In the month of Nissan, we should also learn to trust our first impressions and to not second guess ourselves and others.

This month of Nissan is called the headquarters for newness. A sign that we are close to God is that everything feels new, full of wonder and possibilities. These are the precious moments in life when we may be doing what we always do, and suddenly our consciousness is lifted upwards, our hearts open and we are filled with the awareness of the sanctity of life itself. We are so happy to simply be alive. This is a taste of the joy of Nissan. This is the month to leave our personal restrictions and move to greater freedom. There are significant life changes possible in Nissan. If you feel stuck in a life routine that is limiting, take heart, Passover is coming, Nissan is here. Nissan was the month when the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt, it will be the month in the future when the final redemption will take place, and in every Nissan there is the hope and expectation that something new and wonderful will happen. In this month we celebrate the holiday of Passover. Many of us are already planning for where we will be for the Passover Seder. The scent of Spring in the air makes us aware of the new life emerging in nature and that reminds us to pay attention to the new energies stirring within each of us as well.

At the Passover Seder we are reminded that the exodus from Egypt was not just a one time historical event. The Hagaddah says, " In every generation one should regard himself as though he personally had gone out of Egypt. ( Ex. 13:8) Metaphorically, we are still in Egypt. The Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitzraim which means " narrow straits" which represents all psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical constraints. While we are in the physical world, there are varying degrees of bondage that we experience. On Passover particularly and throughout the month of Nissan, it is a propitious time to free oneself from internal and external constraints, to make a personal exodus from our personal mitzraim.

How do we really move forward to greater freedom in our lives? That is the question. It is not easy to change, to become unstuck, and feel free to be who we really are. To help us to spring forward in our lives, we are given the holiday of Passover in the month of Nissan with all its rituals and observances that help us break through limitations and go forward in the ways that our soul yearns to do. We can not do it alone. We need divine assistance. By forging a stronger connection with God through prayer, meditation, and doing acts ( mitzvot) we place ourselves in alignment with Divine blessing. We feel most alive and vibrant when we are connected to G*d. Give yourself time each day in personal prayer to stand in the question. What does G*d want of me? What does my soul need to heal, grow and shine? Talk to God and listen carefully to what opens within you.

In this month of Nissan, it is particularly important and helpful to watch your speech. The healing dimension for this month is speech. It is through our speech that we redeem or enslave ourselves. We create our reality through our speech. Be sure to take time each day to express your gratitude to G*d and people around you. A word, a look, a gesture of appreciation, a blessing to another person just for being in your life can be a holy passport that opens gates for greater freedom for each of you. We may never know how precious words of blessing and appreciation are to both the giver and receiver."