Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz
Why do the Jewish people use a lunar calendar while other nations use a solar one? And why is its use the very first mitzvah (Torah commandment) given to us as a nation?
Rabbi Chaim Mintz responds:
The Sun and the Moon: Two Systems of Divine Governance
The sun and moon represent two distinct methods Hashem (God) uses to run the world. The sun, which shines full and bright at all times, represents the unchanging system that encompasses both the natural laws (teva) and the fixed, predetermined order of the world (mazal). As King Shlomo stated when emphasizing the constancy of nature (Kohelet 1:9), “There is nothing new under the sun.” Hashem governs the nations of the world through this system, making the solar calendar a fitting choice for the world at large.
The Moon as a Reflection of Jewish History
The moon, on the other hand, starts with just a sliver, growing and growing until it shines in full, but then gradually fades into darkness, and is then reborn once again. This represents the Jewish people, who experience times of growth and great success followed by periods of hardship and exile. And just as we know with certainty that even after the moon disappears, it will reappear and shine bright once again, so too the Jewish people will ultimately be restored to greatness.
The Lunar Calendar and the Jew’s Power of Free Will
The moon also symbolizes Hashem’s unique and dynamic relationship with the Jewish people, one in which His decrees are directly tied to our actions—good and bad. If we sin, we may fall, and through our repentance and good deeds, Hashem can raise us to the top, altering the natural order of the world, and even overturning Divine decrees. Thus, the lunar calendar best reflects our reality as Jews.
As Chazal (our Sages) teach (Shabbat 156a), “Ein mazal l’Yisroel—the Jewish people are not bound by mazal (fate),” meaning that through our actions, we have the unique power to transcend and even alter predestined outcomes and change our fate. The Ramban at the end of Parshat Bo (13:16) emphasizes this point as a fundamental principle of our faith, stating that there is no such thing as nature, as all events and circumstances are miraculous, entirely guided by Hashem, based on our deeds and misdeeds.
Why Was the Lunar Calendar the First Mitzvah Given to the Jewish People?
The difference between the solar and lunar calendars is also evident in how they are established. The solar calendar, like the sun itself, follows a set routine, governed by the predictable cycles of nature. In contrast, the lunar calendar requires our active participation, and Hashem. Hashem establishes a new month only when it is declared by Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court). This symbolizes the unique relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people, showing that He runs the world based on our decisions.
Since our unique relationship with Hashem was established at the time of Yetziat Mitzrayim, it is appropriate that the very first mitzvah given to us as a nation was the sanctification of the new month. This mitzvah embodies the principle that Hashem governs us in response to our actions, beyond the limits of nature, and that we have the power through our deeds to profoundly impact all of existence.
The Lunar Calendar and Jewish Kingship
This is also the basis of the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 8a) that teaches that the years of non-Jewish kings start in the month of Tishrei, while the years of Jewish kings start in Nissan. This distinction reflects this difference between Jews and non-Jews. For non-Jews, the new year begins in Tishrei, which marks the creation of the world and its natural order. But for the Jewish people, the year begins in Nissan, commemorating Yetziat Mitzrayim, when our unique reality—one that transcends nature—was established.
In Short: Why the Jews use the Lunar Calendar
The sun symbolizes the natural, unchanging order, reflecting how Hashem interacts with the world in general. The moon rises and falls, representing the Jewish people, who have both periods of growth and hardship. The lunar calendar also reflects how Hashem runs the world based on our decisions, shaping outcomes that transcend the natural order.
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