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...
Tebilat Kelim – Must One Immerse a Can Opener or Nutcracker?
Immersing A Utensil Before Giving It As A Gift
Tebilat Kelim – The Status of Nutcrackers, Dentures, Utensils Purchased as Merchandise, and Utensils Made by a Gentile With a Jew’s Material
May One Keep in His Home a Utensil That Has Not Undergone Immersion?
The Proper Procedure for Immersing Utensils
Must a Convert Immerse His Utensils After Conversion?
Is It Permissible To Dip Kelim In Snow Rather Than A Mikveh
Tisha BeAv- The Amidah On Tisha BeAv
The Se’uda Mafseket When Tisha B’Ab Begins on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Must Pregnant and Nursing Women Fast When Tisha B’Ab is Delayed From Shabbat to Sunday?
Habdala For One Who Needs to Eat When Tisha B’Ab is Observed on Sunday
The Fifth Day of Av: The Yahrzeit of Rabbenu HaAri
The Procedure for Habdala When Tisha B’Ab is Observed on Mosa’eh Shabbat and Sunday
Tisha B'av- Preparing for Tisha B'av Which Falls Out On Mosa'eh Shabbat
The Status of the Week of Tisha B’Ab When it Falls on Sunday
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found