Chodesh Tov. We are beginning the month of Shevat. Rosh Chodesh is a great day. We don’t celebrate it like we celebrate a holiday, but we should talk about each Rosh Hodesh if we can, and at least be cognizant of the day.
Firstly, the Tur tells us, in the laws of Rosh Chodesh, that the 3 main holidays correspond to the 3 Avot. Avraham is Pesach, as it says
לשי ועשי עגות
-Sarah was told to bake Matzot.
Yaakov Avinu corresponds to Succot, as it says he traveled to a place called Succot. Finally, Shavuot represents Yitzhak, for reasons we won’t get into here.
Likewise, the 12 shevatim (tribes) correspond to the 12 months of the year. Originally each Rosh Hodesh should’ve been a separate holiday, uniquely celebrated based on the specific character trait of that particular tribe. Pesach is all about emunah because it’s connected to Avraham. Likewise for each tribe , we would’ve gone month by month based on the trait of that tribe, and had a full fledged holiday, like a Yom Tov. It would have been beautiful, with shul, no work, a meal, family time and a discussion of that particular shevet.
Rav Chaim Pilaggi, in his sefer Moed L’Kol Chai goes through each month and discusses the segullot of each one.
One interesting thing about Rosh Chodesh Shevat is that it says in the Torah that an event took place on that day, and we know that if an event is mentioned in the Torah on a particular day, it’s something that is forever. In the beginning of Devarim, it says,
בְּעַשְׁתֵּֽי־עָשָׂ֥ר חֹ֖דֶשׁ בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ
on the 11th month, on the first day,
הוֹאִ֣יל מֹשֶׁ֔ה בֵּאֵ֛ר אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את
Moshe Rabbenu started explaining the Torah.
This was his last speech, and it started on Rosh Hodesh Shevat.
As we have discussed previously, every month has a different symbol in the sky. If you look up the horoscopes in the secular newspapers, those symbols are real. Our Jewish religion believes in horoscopes. The symbol for Elul is a young maiden, because of Ani Ledodi V’Dodi Li/ I am to my beloved as my beloved is to me. The symbol for Tishre is a scale, which we know is because of judgment. The goyim don’t understand why, but the Ramban brings that down.
The symbol for the month of Shevat is a pail that gets water out of a well . Why a pail? Because this is the day
האיל משה באר
Moshe explained.
The word באר to explain also means well. When you explain, it’s like bringing things out from beneath the surface. We know everything in the Torah has depth to it. The Zohar says we all start off as a בור, a pit, empty, and people pour into us. We don’t yet have our own source. Our parents and teachers give to us. Eventually, however, there comes a point in life when a person goes from being a בור / a pit to a באר/ a well, and the knowledge starts to comes out. We become the source. The highest level a person can become is a מעין/ a geyser, which shoots out like the geysers at Yosemite Park, overflowing with Torah and mitzvot, that he can give to others as well.
So built into the month of Shevat is that power that you can bring out your potential.
Rav Chaim Pilaggi says this month corresponds to Yosef Hatzaddik and how eventually he and his brothers got along.
The Rashi Tevot for שבט Shevat are שלום ברכה טובה -Shalom, Beracha Tova. Peace, blessing and goodness.
It’s a wonderful month. Every month is a time to work on yourself and your growth.
Chodesh Tov and may you bring out all of your inner wellsprings.
Have a wonderful day and a wonderful month.