Rosh Chodesh

Rosh Chodesh (Hebrew: ראש חודש ) is the name for the first day of each month in the Jewish calendar, which always coincides in this lunar calendar about with the first visibility of the crescent moon after the new moon. The custom, to greet the new moon rising and festive to celebrate, originated in the nomadic life of the Jewish people. She was also related to the fact that the moon was used as a timepiece. In the spätnachexilischen time was determined by the Sanhedrin through testimonies, when the crescent moon appeared, and then the very sanctified on the following day. In early Christianity there were circles that celebrated the new moons and sabbaths (Col. 2:16), ( Gal 4:10).

The priestly law recognizes the new moon though and determines the special sacrifices for it (Num 28:11 ), but does not require a general strike as the Israeli real holiday the Sabbath. In traditional Judaism but are the women in this day of all the postponement tolerating typical women's work freed (such as spinning and weaving ). As the Sabbath was also on new moon day a solemn assembly held in the sanctuary (Isa. 1:13); (Hos 2:13), ( Ez 46.1 ), and because the priest was on such a holy day in solemn mood, it happened that he was just taken on this day from the divine word. ( Ez 26,1 ), ( Hag 1, 1). In (1 Sam 20:6), the custom is described to offer the annual sacrifice of the clan at the new moon, a sign of how the new moon was popular as a holiday from old times.