What is Rosh Hodesh (New Moon)?
New Moon (Hebrew: Rosh Hodesh): The beginning of the Hebrew month. During the period of the First Temple the New Moon was regarded as a semi-festival (possibly the continuation of an ancient moon-festival tradition) when the people abstained from business (Amos 8:5), thronged the Temple (Is. 1:13-14; 66:23), held family feasts (I Sam. 20:5), and visited the prophet (II Kings 4:23). The festive character of the day was equally signified by its special sacrifice (Num. 28:11-15) and by the blowing of the trumpet (Num. 10:10). The festiveness of the New Moon disappeared during the Second Temple Period except for another waning custom by which women were granted freedom from work on that day as a reward for their reluctance to give their ornaments for the fashioning of the Golden Calf. Nevertheless considerable attention was paid to the determination of the New Moon by the Sanhedrin through the testimony of witnesses, and the liturgy of the day reflects its ancient importance. When in the 3
