The Mishna in Rosh Hashana tells us that there are four “New Years.” Although in regards to many things, Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year, in regards to counting the months, Nisan is considered the first. In other words, although the Jewish year starts in Tishrei, we start counting the months from Nisan.
This is based on the pasuk in Parshas Bo (12:2): “This month [of Nisan] is for you the ‘head’ of the months; it shall be for you the first of the months.” This is the very first mitzvah given to the Jews in the Torah: we are not to count the months from Rosh Hashanah, which is in Tishrei; rather, Chodesh Nisan shall be considered the first month.
The Ramban, there, expounds on this mitzvah and explains that the Torah wants us to use the numbers for counting the months in reference to yetzias Mitzra’im, i.e., the 1st month from our redemption, the 7th month, etc. This is in order to constantly remember the great miracles that Hashem did for us when we were redeemed from Mitzra’im. Therefore, he adds, there is no mention of any names of the months in the Torah: only the “first month,” the “second month,” etc. He adds that that is the reason for the expression that is used: “This month is for you the head,” because it is not the beginning of the year per se, it is rather the beginning of the counting of the Jewish months. That is also, says the Ramban, why there are no names of months in the Torah, just numbers. This is all in order to constantly remember the great miracles that Hashem performed in Mitzra’im.
The Ramban continues that we find this concept in regards to counting the days of the week, as well. The Pasuk in Parshas Yisro states: “Remember the day of Shabbos to sanctify it.” The more well-known explanation of the pasuk is that one must articulate the great holiness of the Shabbos, which we do by reciting the Kiddush. The Ramban, however, quotes the Mechilta, who explains the pasuk to mean that during the entire week one must remember the sanctity of the Shabbos. This can be fulfilled by preparing for Shabbos throughout the week. It is also a source for calling each day of the week in its relationship to Shabbos. This is a requirement to say “yom rishon,” “yom sheini,” etc., as we do in the introduction to the shir shel yom. This enables us to constantly remember our Creator. The Kaf Hachaim writes this, as well, in the name of the Arizal, that this is an opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah.
It is worth noting that, as we discussed in previous shiurim, when performing a mitzvah, one must specifically have in mind to fulfill the mitzvah. Consequently, when reciting the shir shel yom, one must have in mind to fulfill this mitzvah.
In conclusion, we count the days until Shabbos and count the months, starting from Nissan, thereby we will constantly remember Hashem’s creation of the world and His wondrous miracles, when He redeemed us from bondage.
This being the case, why, today do we use names for the months? This will be explored in the next article, b’ezras Hashem.
Rabbi Nachum Scheiner, Night Kollel & Morning Kollel
