The Month of Nissan
The Month of Redemption
INTRODUCTION
Nissan is the “head” and first of all the months of the year, as the Torah instructs:
“This month [of Nissan] shall be for you as a ‘Head of Months’; it is the first month of the year for you.”
Clearly, Nissan must contain a unique and foundational instruction for our coming year’s Divine service. One such lesson is derived by examining the name of the month, for a Hebrew name generally indicates the essential theme:
“Nissan” comes from the word “neis,” “a miracle.” In addition, the Talmud states that a name in which the letter “nun” is repeated represents an abundance of “extraordinary miracles” (nisei nissim). This is clearly seen in Nissan, the month in which G-d took us from Egypt with earth-shattering wonders, causing the month to be designated as “the month of redemption.”
Moreover, the word “month” (chodesh) is etymologically related to the word chidush, “innovation.” So when combined, chodesh Nissan (the month of Nissan) indicates “something new in the realm of the miraculous;” i.e., we are now granted the ability to introduce a higher, miraculous element [than was introduced in the previous year] in our Divine service, breaking free of our natural restrictions and fulfilling our mission unimpeded.
As its Hebrew name suggests, nature (“teva”) is simply G-dliness that has been so “submerged” (“tavah”) within the framework of Creation that it no longer appears G-dly. The term “miracle” (neis), on the other hand, also means a raised banner or pole, for a miracle is undisguised G-dliness “placed high” so that all can view its supernatural dimension with clarity.
During this “month of redemption,” we have the heightened ability to free ourselves from the restrictions of nature and serve G-d in a miraculous manner. This means stepping beyond our own innate abilities and habitual (i.e., natural) efforts.
No Barriers in Divine Service
A fresh year begins on the first day of Nissan. Immediately, then, every Jew should “shout out loud” (Yiddish: ois’shrai’en) for the entire world to hear – not only proclaiming verbally, but also announcing via actual conduct – that from now on, he will conduct himself in a supernatural manner on a daily basis!
Simply put, this means [having] a change of attitude towards all those things that, until now, we shied away from taking upon ourselves, thinking that we lacked the natural ability to accomplish them. These include matters pertaining to our regular Torah study, donations to tzedakah, prayers, conducting our daily and mundane affairs for the sake of Heaven, and “knowing Him in all your ways.”
Being the start of a new year, now is the most appropriate time to take on new activities that we possibly lacked the ability to carry out until now and would have required a “miracle” to enable us to accomplish them.
Now, however, we will certainly succeed in these matters – and succeed in a natural manner.
