The custom in Halab was for the congregation to sit during the announcement of Rosh Hodesh on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Hodesh (which the Ashkenazim call "Shabbat Mevarchin"). Although some communities among Lebanese, Egyptian and other Sephardic Jews have the custom to stand, the custom in Halab was to sit. There were those who argued that the congregation should stand because in ancient times, the announcement of Rosh Hodesh ("Kiddush Ha’hodesh") was done in a formal session of Bet Din, in which people stood. However, our commemoration is only ceremonial, and thus standing is not required.
The tradition in Halab was to recite the chapter of Tehillim "Barchi Nafshi" on the first night of Rosh Hodesh, at the beginning of Arbit. According to our custom, is not recited on the second night of Rosh Hodesh, and it is not recited when Rosh Hodesh falls on Shabbat. This chapter speaks of people going out to work ("Yeseh Adam Le’fa’alo"), and is thus inappropriate for Shabbat, when we do not work. Although the custom in Jerusalem is to recite "Bet Yaakob" and the "Shir Shel Yom" before Musaf on Rosh Hodesh, the custom of Halab is not to recite the "Shir Shel Yom" on Rosh Hodesh. We remove our Tefillin before Musaf, after the Kaddish that precedes Musaf, and when Rosh Hodesh falls on Shabbat, the Hazan announces before Musaf, "Ata Yasarta," reminding the congregation to recite the special Musaf for Shabbat Rosh Hodesh.
The community in Halab followed the ruling of the Shulhan Aruch that Birkat Ha’lebana is recited after at least seven days from the Molad (sighting of the new moon). This is in contrast to the custom among Ashkenazim to recite the Beracha already three days following the Molad.
