In Parshas Bo, we read about the last three makos; arbeh, choshech and makas bechoros. The story continues with HKB”H giving instructions for the
preparation and eating of the Korban Pesach and then the actual leaving of Mitzrayim.
Right in the midst of this narrative, before the instructions on the Korban Pesach, HKB”H informs Moshe about a new mitzvah. He tell Moshe “Hachodesh
hazeh lachem rosh chadashim”…..the mitzvah of Kiddush Hachodesh.
The obvious question arises. Why did HKB”H choose to tell this to Moshe right in the middle of the story of leaving Egypt? Couldn’t this have waited until
they left Mitzrayim? After all, no immediate action was required of the people when God gave this mitzvah?
Rav Soloveitchik suggested the following:
What is it that a slave has the least amount of use for? A clock. A slave works all day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Each day is exactly the same as the day before.
He has no need for time. What difference does it make if the clock reads 11 AM or 4 PM? Or if the day is Monday or Friday? The slave is forced to do exactly the same thing at each of those hours. After being in Mitzrayim for 210 years, time certainly had no meaning for Bnei Yisrael.
Now HKB”H comes and tells Moshe to tell the people….”You are soon going to be free”. And time will suddenly have meaning for you. And I want you to take
time and be mekadesh it!…I want you to make time holy by making Rosh Chodesh and hence the Yomim Tovim holy”.
If we examine the tefillah of Birchas Hachodesh we find a very puzzling formula. First, we recite the Yehi Ratzon asking for everything good for the coming month.
After “Mi she’asah nisim’……we announce the day of the week Rosh Chodesh will fall out on, and conclude with “Yechadshayhu HKB”H….” which once again
asks for a good month.
But this paragraph “Mi she’asah nisim la’avosaynu v’ga’al osom may’avdus lechayrus” is strange…..What is the mention of the geulah from Mitzrayim doing here
in the midst of Birchas Hachodesh? What is the connection???
The Rav explained that each and every month, precisely when we remember that a new month is beginning, we must also remind ourselves that we are no longer slaves
in Egypt and time is therefore very important to us. We must remember each and every month to make a commitment to use time wisely and to make it holy!!!