Rosh Chodesh Iyar
(Literal Translation: Head of the Month)
Rosh Chodesh is the beginning of a new month in the Jewish calendar. This Thursday night, April 16th until Saturday evening April 18th is Rosh Chodesh for the Hebrew month of Iyar –the second of the twelve months of the Jewish calendar.
On Rosh Chodesh work is permitted, though as a special day for Jewish women, women should work less than a regular weekday.
No fasting or eulogies allowed
It is not required but appropriate to have a special meal in honor of Rosh Chodesh.
Additional prayers:
In the Evening Service beginning on page 256 in the Artscroll prayerbook, add Ya’aleh v’Yavoh (May there rise and come) to the Silent Devotion (shaded paragraph on page 274)
During the entire Rosh Chodesh, the above prayer is also added at the conclusion of a meal with bread in the Grace After Meals beginning on page 183 (shaded paragraph, top of page 190)
In the Morning Service beginning on page 12, the same prayer is added to the Silent Devotion (shaded paragraph, middle of page 110)
Tachanun on page 132 is NOT recited
Add abridged Hallel (Psalms of Praise) pages 632-top of 642 (delete second paragraphs on pages 634 and 636)
Add special Torah reading
Add special Supplemental Service (pages 644-652)
Add Borchi Nafshi Psalm 104 on page 172
In the Afternoon Service beginning on page 232, add Ya’aleh v’Yavoh (May there rise and come) to the Silent Devotion (shaded paragraph on page 244)
Additional prayers for Friday night and Shabbat day:
In the Shabbat Evening Service beginning on page 308 in the Artscroll prayerbook, add Ya’aleh v’Yavoh
(May there rise and come) to the Silent Devotion (shaded paragraph on page 342)
In the Shabbat Morning Service beginning on page 368, the same prayer is added to the Silent Devotion (shaded paragraph, middle of page 426)
Add abridged Hallel (Psalms of Praise) pages 632-top of 642 (delete second paragraphs on pages 634 and 636)
Two Torah scrolls are used- one for the regular weekly portion Tazria Metzora, the second for Rosh Chodesh,
Shabbat Supplemental Service begins on page 462 and continues with the bottom half of pages 466-469 (instead of the top)
Add Borchi Nafshi Psalm 104 on page 172
In the Shabbat Afternoon Service beginning on page 502, add Ya’aleh v’Yavoh in Silent Devotion (shaded paragraph pg. 518)
Special days in Iyar:
Continue to count the Omer daily
14th day of Iyar, Friday May 1st – Pesach Sheni 18th day of Iyar, Tuesday May 5th – Lag B’Omer
28th day of Iyar- Friday May 15th – Yom Yerushalayim, celebrating the 58th year of the Reunification of Jerusalem
Have a great Chodesh– a great month! Have any questions? Please feel free to call me at (323)857-0923 or on my cell at 213-446-3440.
Rabbi Avrohom Czapnik