On Erev Rosh Chodesh (known as Yom Kippur Katan), give extra tzedakah and increase in davening and learning.
At Minchah we don’t say Tachanun.
Say Yaaleh Viyavo during Maariv tonight. See below, “Hosafos,” for the laws that apply if you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo.
See yesterday’s Luach and below, “Hosafos,” for the laws and customs of Rosh Chodesh.
Even though it is a mitzvah to enhance today’s meal in honor of Rosh Chodesh, on erev Shabbos, such meals should be eaten before the beginning of the tenth halachic hour of the day (i.e., over three shaos zmaniyos before shekiah).
Nails may be cut because it is erev Shabbos.
Shacharis and Hallel
Say Yaaleh Viyavo in Shemoneh Esrei. See below, “Hosafos,” for the laws that apply if you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo.
After Shemoneh Esrei, Half Hallel is recited, followed by Kaddish Shalem. For more on Hallel, see below, “Hosafos.”
Hallel is followed by Shir Shel Yom and Barchi Nafshi. This is followed by krias hatorah. Next, say Ashrei and Uva Letzion. The chazzan concludes Uva Letzion quietly, and the Sefer Torah is returned to the aron kodesh.
Next, remove Rashi’s tefillin, don Rabbeinu Tam’s tefillin, and say Shema, Kadesh li chol bechor, and the Sheish Zechiros. After removing Rabbeinu Tam’s tefillin, we daven Musaf. The chazzan should recite a chapter of Tehillim before saying the Chatzi Kaddish that precedes Musaf.
If you are wearing tefillin when the minyan reaches Kesser, cover the shel rosh when responding.
Bentching
It is a mitzvah to enhance today’s meal in honor of Rosh Chodesh. Say Yaaleh Viyavo and the Harachaman for Rosh Chodesh. Additionally, replace the word Magdil (in the possuk Magdil yeshuos malko) with Migdol.
See below, “Hosafos,” for more on bentching and for the laws that apply if you forgot to say Yaaleh Viyavo.
When saying a Berachah Acharonah Mei’ein Shalosh (e.g., Al Hamichyah), add the addition for Rosh Chodesh. (However, there is no need to repeat the berachah if it was omitted.)
Minhagei Rosh Chodesh
It is customary for women to refrain from performing certain types of work on Rosh Chodesh (see note).
It is customary to refrain from taking a haircut and cutting nails on Rosh Chodesh.
The Frierdiker Rebbe cites an “ancient custom” to study a possuk from the kapitel corresponding to one’s age each Rosh Chodesh, along with Rashi’s explanation (and additional commentaries). For Tehillim with Rashi, visit www.chabad.org/16222.
If there are less than twelve pesukim in your kapitel (or less than thirteen in a leap year), when you finish the kapitel, learn it a second time. If there are more than twelve (or thirteen) pesukim in your kapitel, study enough pesukim each Rosh Chodesh to finish the kapitel over the course of the year.
The Rebbe encouraged arranging farbrengens (in shul) on Rosh Chodesh.
The Rebbe suggested participating in a farbrengen, and resolving to add in your efforts to spread Torah, Yiddishkeit and Chassidus.
