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By Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky,
B'nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica

Translated by Inés Baum - Proofreading by Ellen Zindler

This week’s parashah continues with the story of the ten plagues, which began last week. However, the natural account is abruptly interrupted when we reach chapter 11 where the subject is the tenth plague. If we observe the text carefully, we will see that chapter 11 should be logically followed by what begins on verse 29, chapter 12. In between, a classic legal text appears for the first time in the Torah, specifically dealing with the paschal sacrifice.

In a well-known commentary on the first verse of Bereshit, Rashi points out that the Torah should have started exactly on Exodus, chapter 12, since that is where the people of Israel began their instruction concerning religious precepts. According to the Midrash quoted by Rashi, the only reason for the Torah to begin at Genesis was simply to legitimize the possession of Canaan by the people of Israel.

Now, chapter 12 starts with the declaration that the spring month, Nissan, will be the first month of the year. It has traditionally been understood that, in fact, this statement is a reference to the new calendar, which would rule the life of the children of Israel from their liberation on, also referring in particular, to the way of knowing when a new month began.

Why begin the Torah’s legal body with an explanation about the Hebrew calendar? Many have explained that a nation can not be truly free until they possess their own calendar, since slaves are not allowed to control their time (see, for instance, the Chumash commentary “Etz Haim”). Furthermore, everyone knows the high level of importance that the luach ivri, the Hebrew calendar, plays in Jewish tradition.

I would like to add another explanation: in ancient times, the beginning of the month was declared by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court, through direct moon observation performed by two reliable witnesses. Therefore, date determination of all Jewish festivals was in the hands of men. This is one of the fundamental principles of Judaism: God orders His laws, but it is men who are responsible for their implementation. Perhaps this is the reason why Torah laws formally begin with the precept of the Jewish calendar and the new month.

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Forwarded by Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik, from Kol Shearit Israel Congregation, Panama.
Translated by Inés Baum and proofread by Ellen Zindler, from B’nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica.

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