By Rabbi Dovid Sapirman, Dean, Ani Maamin Foundation
In the Torah, the months of our calendar have no names. They are simply referred to by number, with Nissan as the first. Just as the days of the week have no names, only numbers, in order to always remember the Shabbos, so too have we been commanded to number the months in order to always remember yetzias Mitzrayim. Yet today we do have names for the months: Nissan, Iyar, Sivan, etc. How did this happen?
Ramban quotes Chazal, saying that the names of the months were brought back to Eretz Yisrael from galus Bavel, in fulfillment of the pasuk in Yirmiyahu. “It will no longer be said [as an oath] ‘Chai Hashem Who brought us up from the land of Mitzrayim,’ rather ‘Chai Hashem Who brought us up from the land of the North, and from the other lands where He dispersed us.’” As the more recent geulah, the return from Bavel became the main focus. From then on, the first month was called by the Persian name Nissan.
The Rambam tells us not to entertain the thought that in the time of Mashiach the world will run supernaturally. It will not. Chickens will still lay eggs, crops will need rain, apples will grow on trees. However, the Rambam does not mean to say that there will be no miracles at all. Just as today, ever since the first Shabbos, the world has been guided through the forces of nature, with nissim performed periodically, so will it be in the era of Mashiach. Those nissim will be equal to the ones we witnessed in Mitzrayim, and even greater.
As a reminder of yetzias Mitzrayim, we recite the third paragraph of Shema daily. There is a dispute between Ben Zoma and the chachamim as to whether we will do so after Moshiach comes. Ben Zoma cites the verse in Yirmiyahu above to prove that we will mention only the miracles of the yemos hamashiach, not the memory of yetzias Mitzrayim. The chachamim, however, explain the verse to mean that we will indeed focus mainly on the miracles of the Messianic era, but still mention secondarily the exodus from Egypt.
We have been taught that in the month of Nissan we are destined to be redeemed. Miracles will occur; the Jewish people will be lauded and praised; gentiles will admit that their religions were false all along. Everyone will flock to hear the teachings of Mashiach, and the world will be a place of harmony and tranquility. May it be soon, in our days!
