PARSHAS HACHODESH – “החודש הזה לכם”
“This month shall be for you.”
This week, we lain Parshas Hachodesh, telling us about the new moon, specifically about the first month of the year, the month of Nissan. Why do we lain Parshas Hachodesh specifically on Shabbos Kodesh, instead of just laining it on Rosh Chodesh, no matter what day Rosh Chodesh falls on?
The Zohar Hakodosh says that the heart is the “Gan Eden” of a person, and the eyes are the gates of Gan Eden. Just as there is a Gan Eden in the world, there is Gan Eden in a person, and there is a time that is Gan Eden. That time is the month of Nissan, and thus, it is a month of potential great hisororos, awakenings, for one to come close to Hashem. It is a time of redemption. One must see to it that he does not allow the evil spirits to enter his heart, his Gan Eden, all year, but specifically in this month, for being that his heart is open, he needs to ensure that harmful beings not enter. Being that it is open and a time of great potential aliyah, elevation in ruchniyos, all should seek to maximize this time.
The avodah of the month of Tishrei is great הכנעה, lowering oneself, and seeking rachmanus from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The avodah of the month of Nissan is for one to seek to increase his love for Hashem and to elevate his heart and elevate himself in the ways of Hashem. One needs to know his potential and then seek to achieve it. Just as by the month of Tishrei, we need help from Above first, and we have the month of Elul, in which we are given help from Above to perform avodah, so too, for the month of Nissan, we need help from Above first, and that comes in the form of the month of Adar. The month of Elul is a time of seriousness and true humility, while the month of Adar is a time of being elevated in joy and in being proud to be in the army of Hashem. Each month helps out the month following it for what it needs.
During the month of Elul, we blow the shofar to awaken our hearts to teshuvah and to deep humility, to attach ourselves to the thirteen middos harachamim so that we can attain a good judgment and kapparah. During the month of Adar, we must do things to infuse love into our relationship with Hashem to prepare for the month of Nissan. (שם משמואל)
The month of Nissan is a time that the gates of Gan Eden are opened, although it seems that there are walls around Gan Eden so that strangers cannot just enter. It is a time when goodness reigns, and strangers are unable to enter Gan Eden during this time. Only those who are worthy to enter can enter.
Shabbos Kodesh is a day that the evil spirits have no control over. Just like the month of Nissan is special in this way, every Shabbos Kodesh is special. We lain Parshas Hachodesh specifically on Shabbos Kodesh so that we should know that we are zoche to the same concept of Chodesh Nissan every single Shabbos Kodesh. The month of Nissan represents hischadshus, newness. It is a time when one can reinvent himself. We can make ourselves into better people, better ovdei Hashem.
May we be zoche to utilize this time properly and strengthen ourselves in all areas of avodas Hashem.
