Nissan board

Some facts about the Hebrew Month of Nissan.
Nissan is the first month on the Jewish calendar. Before the Jews left Egypt, on the first day of the month of Nissan, G‑d told Moses and Aaron: “This chodesh (new moon, or month) shall be to you the head of months.”4 Thus the peculiarity of the Jewish calendar: the year begins on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the month of Tishrei (the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve), but Tishrei is not the first month. Rosh Hashanah is actually referred to in the Torah as “the first day of the seventh month
Sanctifying the Month
“The L‑rd spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ‘This chodesh shall be to you the head of months.’”
From the wording of this verse, “shall be to you,” the sages deduced that the responsibility of pinpointing and consecrating the chodesh, the crescent new moon, was entrusted to the leaders of our nation, the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical supreme court of every generation.
Originally, there was no fixed calendar. There was no way to determine in advance the exact day of a coming holiday or bar mitzvah, because there was no way to determine in advance when the month would begin. Each month anew, the Sanhedrin would determine whether the month would be 29 or 30 days long, depending on when the following month’s new moon was first sighted, and would sanctify the new month.
In the 4th century CE, the sage Hillel II foresaw the disbandment of the Sanhedrin, and understood that we would no longer be able to follow a Sanhedrin-based calendar. So Hillel and his rabbinical court established the perpetual calendar which is followed today.
It is in this month that we celebrate the eight-day holiday of Passover, from the 15th through the 22nd of Nissan. It commemorates the Jewish people’s miraculous redemption from slavery in Egypt, and the birth of the Jewish nation.
We observe the anniversary of the Exodus each year by removing all leaven from our possession for this week, eating matzah and telling the story of the redemption to our children. By following the rituals of Passover, we have the ability to relive and experience the true spiritual freedom that our ancestors achieved
A special mitzvah which can be fulfilled only once a year, anytime during the month of Nisan, is to recite the berachah (“blessing” or prayer) made upon seeing a fruit tree in bloom. Many people visit botanical gardens during this time, so as to avail themselves of an opportunity to observe this beautiful mitzvah.

 The month of Nissan brown paper board  

The Laws & Customs of Rosh Chodesh

 

Shabbath HaChodesh - welcoming Nissan

Shabbat HaChodesh ("Shabbath of the month" שבת החודש) precedes the first of the Hebrew month of Nissan during which Passover is celebrated. 
On the first day of Nissan, G.d presented the first commandment of how to "sanctify the new moon" (kiddush hachodesh) for the onset of Rosh Chodesh and thus Nissan becomes the first month of the Jewish year (counting by months.).
The spiritual cycle of the Jewish year depends on an interaction among the flow of holidays, the marking of Rosh Chodesh (the new month) and the weekly Shabbat (Shabbath) observance. The holidays permeate the surrounding Shabbatot with holiday themes. These special Shabbatot may create the mood for an upcoming festival, reflect or enhance festival themes, or ease the transition from a festival back into the weekly flow of Shabbatot.
Shabbat Hachodesh and our extra torah reading is from Shemot, the initial commandment and description for observing Passover, to remind us to prepare for the holiday.
Passover is the quintessential spring holiday it is about the birth and renewal, of our people, of the earth and of freedom from oppressive power.

Welcoming the month of Nissan and springtime with pebbles art

 

Spring nature paper dolls

 

Nissan and Birkat Ha'ilanot

The blessing on the trees - Birkat Ha'ilanot - during the month of Nissan belongs to the category of the blessings we recite on seeing wondrous things, for example, the ocean, lightening, a rainbow, passing through a place where a miracle happened etc.
Birkat Ha'ilanot is accordingly recited on seeing the wondrous renewal in nature, as the fruit trees blossom, in anticipation of our benefit from these trees, while acknowledging the deeper aspects of nature's renewal, and the connection of man with the botanic kingdom.

Birkat Ha'ilanot day outside  

Going to the country for the Birkat Ha'ilanot and having children to take pictures 

Chodesh Tov!!!

ROSH CHODESH NISSAN

A special mitzvah, which can be fulfilled only once a year, is to recite the berachah made upon seeing a fruit tree in bloom: Blessed are you G-d our G-d, king of the universe, who left nothing lacking in His world, and created within it good creatures and good trees with which He gives pleasure to people. 
Today is the first opportunity to make this blessing, but it can be done anytime during the month of Nissan (referred to by the Torah as "the month of spring" ). Many visit botanical gardens during this time, so as to avail themselves of an opportunity to observe this beautiful mitzvah.
Chodesh Tov to all of you!

spring natural "collage"

A spring sort of all natural "collage" my daughters made outside from flowers, grass and leaves. Enjoying springtime  colors

Nissan impression booklet

the booklet we made with the pictures of my daughters taste of spring and colour impression of the month of Nissan