DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.22 MB)
Rosh Hashana: Rosh Hashana in the Jewish Calendar

The Tur (R. Yaakob Ben Asher, 1343-1269, Germany-Spain) in Siman 428 brings down that the Jewish Calendar is arranged so that the first day of Rosh Hashana can never fall on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday. This is represented by the mnemonic phrase, "Lo A'D'U' (numerically equivalent to 1,4,6) Rosh," meaning Rosh HaShana will not fall on the first, fourth or sixth day.

The reason for this is as follows: If Rosh HaShana would fall on Sunday, Hoshana Rabba would fall on Shabbat, and the Misva of the Araba would be able to be performed. If Rosh Hashana would fall on Wednesday, Yom Kippur would be on Friday. This would create a situation of two consecutive days prohibited from the Torah to do Melacha. If someone, Heaven forbid, would pass away on Yom Kippur, he could not be buried until Sunday, and Heaven forbid, the body might begin to decompose. Similarly, Rosh Hashana cannot fall on Friday, to avoid the reverse situation in which Yom Kippur would be on Sunday, and the same problem of disrespect to the dead would exist.

Parashat Ki Tavo is always read before Rosh Hashana, so that the curses detailed in it are on last year's account. The following Parasha, Nisavim, is read on the Shabbat immediately prior to Rosh Hashana. Some years Nisavim is read by itself and other years it is read together with the following Parasha, VaYelech. The Shulhan Aruch presents a mnemonic phrase, "BaG (numerically equivalent to 2,3=Monday, Tuesday) Hamelech, Pat VaYelech"-If the Melech (King), which alludes to Rosh Hashana, is on Monday or Tuesday, split Parashat VaYelech from Nisavim. However, if Rosh Hashana is on any other day, they are combined. This year, Rosh Hashana starts on Monday, and therefore Nisavim is read by itself.

SUMMARY
Rosh Hashana never falls on Sunday, Wednesday or Friday.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
What Quantity of Bread Requires Netilat Yadayim with a Beracha?
All Present At A Kiddush Must Drink Wine From The Cup Of The Mekadesh
Is One Required To Repeat A Beracha If Leaving A Room and Returning
Must One Repeat The Beracha On Food or Drink After Using A Restroom
Kiddush Must Be Said Only With A Meal In The Room of The Meal
The 2nd Beracha in Birkat Ha’mazon- NODEH
The Proper Sequence When Reciting Me'ein Shalosh and Borei Nefashot
The Proper Berachot for Fruit Salad and for Rice with Vegetables
The Proper Beracha on a Papaya & Halachic Definition of a Tree- Part II
Beracha for Bananas and Eggplant & Halachic Definition of a Tree- Part I
The Beracha On Gefilte Fish and Cheesecake
Reciting a Beracha Acharona After Drinking Wine and Water
Is The Mekadesh Required To Drink The Wine At A Wedding Under The Chupa
Is It Permissible For The Mekadesh To Share The Responsibility of Drinking From The Kiddush Cup With Others
If One is Unsure He Ate Enough Qty To Make M'en Shalosh After Eating Both Fruits and Grains
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found