Tazria- Hachodesh – The Impact of Time

Rabbi Ezra Friedman

Time, space, and the physicality of man are three basic elements of our world and are the sources of what separates Man from Hashem. Hashem is above the materialistic man, is infinite in time and is not confined to any space. Those three elements are essential in Jewish theology because all three are greatly sanctified in Judaism. The purpose of our creation is to uplift the material and to make it spiritual. In Judaism, we maximize our being (man), space and time. We sanctify time with holidays and an active Jewish daily schedule. We sanctify our being with heightened intellectual development through Torah study and other Mitzvot. Our homeland, Eretz Yisrael is the place of sanctity in Judaism, with Yerushalyim and the Beit Hamikdash being the pinnacle of this sanctification. This trio unite at one very special point in Judaism. This occurs when the Kohen Hagadol (High Priest) enters the Kodesh Hakodashim (Holy of Holies) on Yom Kippur. The holiest being enters the holiest place on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. All three aspects combine to reach the highest level of sanctity. Space, physicality, and time all have their unique and fundamental lessons to impart to Am Yisrael. In this article, we will focus on the aspect of time.

This week, at the end of Kriat Hatorah, we read a section from Shemot that discusses the first commandment passed on to Am Yisrael as a nation, the Mitzvah of Kiddush Hachodesh (sanctifying the new moon). In Judaism, the holidays follow the lunar calendar. In order to complete a month, two witnesses must see the new moon and then testify in the high court in Jerusalem that they saw it and as a result of their testimony the new month begins. Today we have a set calendar that is based on the lunar calendar cycle. However, the source of the Mitzvah is still valued today. The first Mitzvah given to Am Yisrael before leaving Egypt was a Jewish calendar, the gift of time. Much rabbinic literature discusses the importance and details.

Perhaps we can add additional meaning to this Torah reading. The Ramban claims that the importance of having a Jewish calendar is to remember the miracles that happened each month and prepare for them. When we know Nissan is coming around, we prepare for Pesach. When we bring in Kislev, it reminds us of Chanukah. This Mitzvah relating to time is meant to teach us that we must act and always be aware of what is going on around us. We realize that a holiday is approaching and that there is a limit to how much time we have to prepare. We are always looking at our watches to see how much time we have to take care of things. The impact of time goes even deeper when we look into our pasts to see how we can act in the present in order to change the future. Many commandments are affected by time. On Friday afternoons, one moment we may be cooking food, driving to a friend, or writing a letter and five minutes later these activities would be strictly forbidden.

Time not only keeps order in our world but also enhances our lives. According to Judaism, time must have a constant impact on our lives and our emotions. When we grasp the importance of time, we learn what to focus on, such as our loved ones and our ideals. People who lack a deeper awareness of time can waste not only their time, but also lose the feeling of the importance of maximizing their presence in this world. In order to infuse Am Yisrael with these important lessons, Hashem blessed us with a Jewish calendar, a central and uniform system to constantly remind us of the importance of time. This is the reason we have a specific reading about the Mitzvah of a Jewish calendar and this is the same reason why the first Mitzvah given to Am Yisrael as a nation was the mitzvah of sanctifying time.

A calendar is an important part of all religions. Islam and Christianity have their own calendars based on their beliefs. It is unfortunate that many Jews, even amongst the religious, have become oblivious to the importance of the Jewish calendar. It is quite sad when a Jew asks another, “When is Tisha Bav this year?” or “When is Tu-beshevat?” referring to the dates that correspond to the secular calendar. These holidays are days in the Jewish calendar and not just names of holidays.

The Chatam Sofer was appalled at many Jews who based their schedules around the Christian calendar. He was perplexed how observant Jews could relinquish the Jewish calendar and use a calendar based on the birth of a foreign god. There are many, however, who permit the use a non-Jewish calendar, as Rav Ovadia Yosef writes in his Responsa, especially in a situation where there might be negative financial effects for a Jew. On the other hand, everyone agrees that a complete disassociation with our precious Jewish calendar is inappropriate for an observant Jew. As the Ramban wrote, the months and dates in our calendar can infuse our lives with great meaning and purpose. We should hope that every Jew would be able to know more or less when a holiday or an important Jewish date is approaching.

Time as mentioned earlier is part of an important trio, which represents our material world. We must grasp the importance of time and utilize it  in order to maximize our Avodat Hashem. The impact of time, if focused on correctly, can literally change our lives. This awareness of time will help us concentrate on achieving our goals, spending time with our family, and doing good deeds to benefit our fellow man. When we hear the Kriat Hatorah this week, let us all remember how important time really is.