Shabbat HaChodesh

This is the 4th of the special Shabbat Readings. It is called Shabbat HaChodesh. It is always read on the Shabbat prior to Rosh Chodesh Nissan, or on Rosh Chodesh Nissan if they coincide. It consists of Chapter 12 of the Book of Exodus. It consists of 20 verses which connect back to the first of the four the ½ Shekel reading which teaches that a Shekel is 20 Gerar.

What is the purpose of this special reading? What is the energy of this special reading?

The whole purpose is to remind us to grow our consciousness. This is because the word HaChodesh means the new month. These 20 verses are explaining how we are to declare the new moon. This means that there is no new moon until man declares it and recognizes it on a conscious level. Understand the implications of this statement by chanoch.

I know this is not what our scientists teach us. They tell us that the moon is following its orbit and the relationship to the sun is what causes the new moon. This is teaching about physical cause and effect. Kabbalah teaches us to look for the spiritual cause. The spiritual cause is where HaShem is concealing himself from us. When we look for the spiritual cause we are revealing Hashem.

When we declare the new moon we are injecting the consciousness of mankind into the new cycle of our life. We are bringing time (represented by the cycle of the planets) from an unconscious level to a conscious level. Time is the distance between cause and effect. Time is a manifestation of the Sefirah of Chesed, which is the highest consciousness of our physical world.

Some Aspects of the 20 Verses as taught by Kabbalah

Here is an English translation of the second Verse in the Maftir reading for the Shabbat HaChodesh.

'This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.

The Kabbalists have constantly commented on this verse since the emphasis is on "to you." The Hebrew word is not Atah which we are used to from the forumlaic Blessings - Baruch Atah. The word is Lechem which translates as the plural of you. The gematria is 90. When we add the colel it becomes 91 indicating us an energy of unification. In my opinion the unification hinted at is the union of our conscious with our unconscious.

What happens when we - Mankind declares the New Moon time on the Shabbat prior to Rosh Chodesh?

Here is a hint: In Kabbalistic Minyans the time is announcement in as many languages as the minyan has members with the knowledge of how to say the announcement of the new moon. If you know mandarin then it is announced in mandarin. if you know cantonese it is announced in Cantaonese. If you know Russian it is announced in Russian. This is true for all languages of the world. Remember the teaching that the Sanherin announced the new moon and the Sanhedrin members required to speak all 70 languages plus Hebrew and Aramaic.

There are additional items that need to be added here. Do to time considerations they have not yet been added.

chanoch's Commentary

The unity of the last six Parashiot of the Book of Exodus has great insight into the meaning of the Holiday of Pesach and hints to us what is our spiritual work.

I have mentioned in other classes that we would be looking at the meaning of these Parashiot. Mishpatime, Terumah, Tetzaveh, Ki Tisa, Vayakhel, and Pekudai along with the four special Readings, that of the ½ Shekel, Amalek, Para Adumah, and HaChodesh. All of these have to do with consciousness and growing our consciousness to include the levels of our unconscious. Here is just one thought with this in mind. Feel free to contemplate this unity for yourself. It will help your grow your consciousness.

Mishpatim – laws

Terumah – contributions

Tetzaveh – command which is Idol Worship

Ki Tisa – if/when you take

Vayakhel – assemble

Pekudai – accountings -putting things in order

The law is to make a contribution yet it is not a command and we need to guard against it becoming an idol. When you take your unconscious and assemble it with your consciousness make sure you do your self accounting first. Otherwise even self analysis becomes an idol.