SAN DIEGO — In our Torah portion this week, Parashat Bo, the Israelites are freed from Egypt. We are witnessing the transformation from an enslaved and displaced people into a sovereign nation, en route to their promised land. But before they left, God presents the Israelites with what most traditional commentators believe to be the very first mitzvah in the Torah. Prior to leaving Egypt, God instructed the Israelites to “mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months for you.”
At first the commentators were somewhat perplexed that the very first mitzvah is one that seems somewhat mundane and unexceptional, as the Israelites are being instructed to recognize Rosh Chodesh, and the beginning of the new month. But, upon further reflection, the rabbis realized just how central this mitzvah is to Jewish life. Much of the rhythm and flow of Jewish life is determined by the Hebrew calendar. In Judaism, we recognize that spaces and places aren’t necessarily holy. Rather we celebrate, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel puts it, “sanctuaries in time.”
It is my hope and prayer for all of us, that we can embrace this very first mitzvah. May we all recognize the holiness that exists in the time we share together. May we take advantage of the opportunities that Jewish tradition and the Jewish calendar provide us with to celebrate with one another. May we all create sanctuaries in time, enriching our lives with holy moments filled with Judaism, family, friends, and God.
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Rabbi Dorsch is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue. He may be contacted via joshua.dorsch@sdjewishworld.com