A git choidesh! Today is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, 30 Sivan. It says in the Mogen Avrohom on Hilchos Rosh Chodesh that according to the Midrash, Rosh Chodesh was supposed to be a monthly Yom Tov mamesh, no melochos (labors) permitted and all the same halochos as any other Yom Tov. However, we lost this due to the Chet HaEigel, the Sin of the Golden Calf. That sin basically destroyed Hashem’s original intended plan for Klal Yisroel. It says in Maseches Sotah 3b that the Shechinah dwelled with every member of Klal Yisroel until the Chet HaEigel, then the Shechinah left and there are now various conditions as to how we attain Hashroas HaShechinah, the Dwelling of the Shechinah. Even this level that we can attain now is nothing compared to what that generation originally had, they could literally perceive the Shechinah at all times and lost that. We can understand Korach better now, when he says that everyone has a connection to Hashem, and yells at Moshe Rabeinu for claiming power. We can see from the Gemoro in Sotah that Korach was correct in the previous time, when we had this incredible dwelling of the Shechinah, at which time, according to Rashi, there was no Mishkan. The whole concept of the Mishkan, strictly according to P’shat like Rashi, only exists because of this grave sin. R’ Tzadok m’Lublin zy’a also offers arguments that Korach is right for the time of Moshiach. However for our in-between time, the path of Korach is wrong, since Hashem gave us specific laws as to how life must be lived in our current reality.
Eventually, Moshiach is going to come. When this happens, all Tikkunim that need to be made for the Cheit HaEigel and all other aveiros will be done. Tisha B’Av will be a Yom Tov, and we could clearly see that if such a day of mourning will become a Yom Tov then clearly a day such as Rosh Chodesh will become a Yom Tov again like it should’ve been for the past three thousand years. Until that time though, we have an obligation from the Shulchon Oruch to increase in seudos (meals) and have at least one special seudah for Rosh Chodesh. It’s clear from the Rambam and other sources that we should treat Rosh Chodesh like Shabbos in terms of food and clothing. Many people will wash and make a special breakfast for Rosh Chodesh, this is not proper conduct. The way to make Rosh Chodesh is to make a seudah with fish, meat, and wine just like Shabbos and Yom Tov. Some say to only do second day if it’s two day Rosh Chodesh, I personally make a seduah by night and by day just like Yom Tov each day. The B’Nei Yissoschor says that if you are careful to make a real seudah every Rosh Chodesh, then even Rosh Chodesh Av you can eat meat and wine as part of the Rosh Chodesh seudah.
Hashem should bentsh us all with a frailiche, lichtige Choidesh, we should merit to the Geulah Shleima soon in order that we may be able to celebrate on 17 Tammuz and Tisha B’Av with the Moshiach rather than mourn.
Yismach Lev 