Rosh Chodesh Shevat

     Rosh Chodesh Shevat
Rosh Chodesh is the beginning of a new month in the Jewish calendar. This year
starting tonight Wednesday night January 10th until Thursday evening, January
11th This Rosh Chodesh for the Hebrew month of Shevat- the 11th month of the
Jewish Calendar year.

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 RoshChodesh

Additional prayers:
– In the Evening Service beginning on page 256 in the ArtScroll prayer book.
Add Ya’aleh v’Yavoh (May there rise and come) for Rosh Chodesh to Silent
Devotion (shaded paragraph pg. 274).

• During the entire Rosh Chodesh, the prayer Ya’aleh v’Yavoh 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) and we also add the seasonal verse (shaded paragraph, 2nd line
top of page 194) Horachamon Hu Ychadeish Aleinu Es HaChodesh.. (The Compassionate One! May He inaugurate…)
o 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 (omit second paragraphs on pages 634 and 636)

• Add special Torah reading from Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:1-15

• 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, the
shaded paragraph on the top of page 244
-Kiddush Levana – The Sanctification of the New Moon should be ideally recited on Saturday Night, January 20th but no later than Thursday, January  25th.

Special days this month:
Tu B’Shvat (the 15th day of Sh’vat) is the New Year for Trees. This year Tu B’Shvat falls out on Thursday, January 25th.

Many have the custom to eat fruit, especially from the 7 species for which the Land of Israel is praised: “a land of wheat, barley, (grape) vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olives and (date) honey”.

Have a great Chodesh- a great month!

Any questions? Please call me at the Jewish Learning Exchange at 323.857.0923

Rabbi Avrohom Czapnik