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...
Drinking Liquor, Beer and Cognac During the Nine Days
Is it Permissible to Take Medication on Tisha B’Ab?
Tisha B’Ab – Must One Stand in Honor of His Father or Rabbi on Tisha B’Ab?
Tisha B’Av: Havdala When Tisha B’av is on Saturday Night
The Shabbat Meals When Shabbat is the Day Before Tisha B’Ab
When Does One Remove His Leather Shoes When Tisha B’Ab Begins on Mosa’eh Shabbat?
Should Children Under the Age of Bar Misva Fast on Tisha B’Ab?
The Nine Days – May One Eat Meat That is Left Over From Shabbat?
Mosa’eh Tisha B’Ab
Tisha B’Ab – Applying Skin Creams, Perfume and Deodorant
Tisha B’av: The Foods (Fish) At Seudat Hamafseket and the Seudah If One is Not Fasting on Tisha B’av
Tisha B’av- Showering During the Week of Tisha B’av
Tisha B’Ab – The Prohibition of Studying Torah
Freshly-Laundered Clothing When Tisha B’Ab Falls on Sunday
If a Boy Becomes Bar-Misva on Sunday, the 10th of Ab
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found