Shira Hadashah
Rosh Chodesh
Prayers for Rosh Chodesh
The additions to the Amidah to be recited during Musaf on Rosh Chodesh or on the preceding Shabbat refer to God’s gift of “New Moon festivals for atonement.” Perhaps this phrase calls for monthly reflection on our misdeeds. The Talmud suggests that this prayer is offered on behalf of God. God originally made the Sun and the Moon equal in brightness. The Moon complained that two equal bodies of light could not rule the same sky. God accordingly gave each body half the time and further asked the Moon to lessen itself through monthly phases. This did not please the Moon in the least, and so we pray to atone for God’s difficulty. |
Rosh Chodesh 
The beautiful prayers for Rosh Chodesh celebrate one of the earliest rituals in our calendar. In Exodus 12:2 in preparation for the first Passover, the Israelites were given their calendar, and were told that “’this month shall be for you the beginning of the months.’” In Numbers (10:10) we are told that the New Moon was to be the occasion for sounding the shofar and bringing special offerings. Originally, all this was performed by the men. They forfeited this privilege when they worshipped the Golden Calf, and the ceremony was put into the hands of the women, who had demonstrated their faithfulness. They had been unwilling to give their gold jewelry for the Golden Calf but later were happy to contribute it to the Temple. 
