The first mitzvah given to the Jewish people is in this week’s parsha. It is Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of each month. As we know, Rosh Chodesh would always be one of two days, either 30 or 31 days after the last Rosh Chodesh. The reason for this is because the new moon would come every 29 and a half days which meant that some months would have 29 days and some would have 30 days.

This confusion of one day is the reason that outside of Eretz Yisroel, Jews keep two days of every Yom Tov. The new month would be declared in Yerushaliyim when the new moon was seen over Yerushaliyim. Then, messengers were sent out to all of the distant cities to tell them when Rosh Chodesh was. Many times these messengers took numerous days to get to the far-away cities to tell them when Rosh Chodesh was. This caused a problem because we know that we have Festivals from the Torah that begin in the middle of certain months (for example, Pesach begins the 15th of Nissan). The people in cities outside of Eretz Yisroel knew that the 15th of Nissan was one of two days (because Rosh Chodesh was one of two days as explained above), but did not know which day was correct until the messenger arrived. Since many times the messenger did not get to the cities in time for the beginning of Pesach (or the other Festivals), Chazal (our Sages) decided that those outside of Eretz Yisroel should hold two days of Yom Tov. They should keep the laws of Yom Tov so they do not accidentally choose the wrong day and transgress a Torah law (which is a terrible thing to be done). Therefore, two days of Yom Tov are kept.

With all of this said, I have a simple question. Why is Rosh Chodesh only decided by the new moon over Yerushaliyim? Why can’t each city declare when Rosh Chodesh is by when they see the new moon? In New York when the new moon is seen, Rosh Chodesh is declared there. Miami may be the next day. Dallas sees it on its day. Iraq on its day. And so forth. Why is it decided by when the new moon is seen over Yerushaliyim only?

I think, in my humble opinion, the answer is that the Jewish nation is one. We are all connected. We have the same Rosh Chodesh to remind us that we are all together. Even if we do not feel connected to Jews thousands of miles away from us, we are connected. We are all from one, very large body. So when Pesach rolls around in a few months (yes, it’s almost Pesach cleaning time!!!) and we wonder why we have two Seders, remember it is to remind us that all Jews are connected. We are one!

Good Shabbos!
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