Tomorrow is called “Shabbat Mevarchim,” the Sabbath on which we announce the date of the coming Hebrew month. Since we are lunar people, Rosh Hodesh (the new month) coincides with the new moon. While every month has its own Shabbat Mevarchim, this is a big one because it’s when we anticipate Nisan, the month in which we celebrate our liberation from Egyptian bondage (it starts on Tuesday by the way).
“Shabbat Mevarchim,” which announces the new month, doesn’t mean “the Shabbat of Announcing.” Instead, it means, “the Shabbat of blessing.” The day, and the ritual, is not simply about informing the community of exactly when the new month begins. It’s really about offering a blessing, a prayer for what we hope the new month will bring.
It is an ancient blessing, dating back to the time of the Talmud. Part of it is attributed to a 2nd century sage so influential that he was known simply as Rav, the Rabbi. Another section seems to be inspired by a passage in the Jerusalem Talmud.
Traditionally on Shabbat Mevarchim, the service leader holds the Torah scroll and tells the community which day Rosh Hodesh falls in the coming week. And then the leader says:
מִי שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְגָאַל אוֹתָם מֵעַבְדוּת לְחֵרוּת. הוּא יִגְאַל אוֹתָנוּ בְּקָרוֹב וִיקַבֵּץ נִדָּחֵינוּ מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ. חֲבֵרִים כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:
May the One who performed miracles for our ancestors, and redeemed them from slavery to freedom, redeem us soon and gather our dispersed from the four corners of the earth; all Israel are friends! And let us say, Amen.
So in anticipation of Passover especially, I want to examine this part of the blessing. What is the essential wish expressed in the prayer? Redemption—for a purpose. It’s not just that we be freed from bondage, from whatever it is that enslaves us. We pray that we be united, gathered together physically and spiritually. But even more, we pray that we become chaveirim, friends.
I find this to be among the most beautiful of blessings. Redeem us God so that we can be together in harmony, unity, and friendship.
Over the past six months, our community—here and most especially in Israel—has experienced so much anguish, fear, trauma, and pain. As we enter the Passover season, the time of our liberation, may we know physical healing and spiritual healing as well. I pray that, whatever divides us, as we move forward, we can bring nearer the day when we will truly be gathered together, free of rancor and enmity, filled with friendship and love.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Yoshi
