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...
Does One Make the Beracha of ‘SheAsa Li Kol Tzarki’ on Tisha BeAv
Tisha BeAv- The Prohibition of Laundering Clothes The Week of Tisha BeAv
Tisha BeAv- Seudat Hamafseket (The Last Meal Before The Fast)
Tisha BeAv- The Prohibition Taking Hair Cuts, and Cutting Nails During The Week of Tisha BeAv
Tisha BeAv- The Prohibition of Wearing Freshly Laundered Garments In The Week of Tisha BeAv
Tisha BeAv- Prohibitions During The First 9 Days of Av
Weddings and Engagements During the Three Weeks
Music During the Three Weeks
The Shehehiyanu Blessing During the Three Weeks
Reciting Tikun Hasot During the Three Weeks
The Miracle of 11 Tammuz, 5687 (1927)
Should One Avoid Having to Recite “She’hehiyanu” During the Three Weeks?
What Kind of Siyum Permits Eating Meat During the Nine Days?
Is it Permissible to Eat Synthetic Meat During the Nine Days
Torah Reading on a Fast Day in a Minyan of People Who are Not Fasting
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found