Rosh Chodesh 2022
First Restoration

Restoration
Rosh Chodesh was originally ordained by God as a Sabbath day (2Kings 4:23, Isaiah 1:13-14, Ezekiel 46:1, 3 & Amos 8:5), and He instructed Israel to celebrate each and every Rosh Chodesh as an eternal Commandment.

The first day of each Hebrew month is called Rosh Chodesh. Most people who know about this holy day think these Hebrew words mean New Moon. However, Rosh Chodesh actually means First Restoration, or the First day of Restoration of the new month.

Rosh means head, beginning or first. Chodesh is from the root word chadash which means to restore to a previous condition. The two words together––Rosh Chodesh––have always been translated as New Moon. This day falls on the first day of every Hebrew month, which is when the New Moon appears, but these Hebrew words do not mean New Moon.

The meaning of chodesh is referring to the moon because the moon is restored to its previous condition every single month. Therefore, wherever chadosh or chadash, or a derivative of it is used in a sentence, the meaning is to restore to its previous condition.

There are no actual words meaning new or moon in the name of this Festival, and the Jews DO NOT celebrate nor worship the moon.

It is thought that the Jews barely recognize this day, but in fact some Jewish congregations have actually begun to celebrate Rosh Chodesh again.

At some point in the very near future, God will again expect all of those who are His, to celebrate this day as it was intended to be celebrated––on the first day of each month, which is when the New Moon appears.

This is also a celebration of God's gift of Redemption (restoration) that He gave to His people––and it just happens to fall on the first day of each Hebrew month, which is when the New Moon appears.

God wants to restore us each month––to remind us of His faithfulness to us. On the first day of each Hebrew month, Yahweh Yeshua (Yahweh, our Salvation) gave us a day to commemorate that He will never forget us. Numbers Chapter 10 tells us that this is a day that we will be remembered before God––that He is the One Who fights all our battles. God restores and strengthens our faith in Him each month, and Yeshua (Jesus) reminds us that God is the One Who gave us His gift of Redemption.

An Extra Month
Because God already shortened the Earth's days, every nineteen years there are two new moons in one month. We don’t actually celebrate the New Moon, because that would be celebrating God’s creation rather than Him and His festivals. However, Rosh Chodesh does fall on the day of the new moon, so we must know when they occur because this is a very important day to God. The Jews added this extra month sometime during the Babylonian exile, and therefore there are actually thirteen new moons in this one particular year about every nineteen years––although we still celebrate only twelve.

The idea that the Jews would celebrate Rosh Chodesh when they saw the New Moon appear cannot be true, because we cannot see the actual new moon from the Earth. It is the following night that a new moon shows in our night sky.

I believe the Hebrews knew when to celebrate Rosh Chodesh in the past because originally there were exactly 364 days in a year. There were eight months that had 30 days, and four months had 31 days: Each of the months before each of the seasonal weather changes had 31 days, and the rest had 30 days. It was easy to simply count the days, beginning with one of the weather seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter).

Celebrating Rosh Chodesh
• This is a day of Joy and celebration.

• David celebrated Rosh Chodesh each month, and there was a special meal eaten on this day (1Samuel 20:5, 18 & 24, Psalm 81:3). In 1Chronicles 23:31, 2Chronicles 8:13 & Ezekiel 46:6 there were offerings on Rosh Chodesh, so we can choose our meal from these offerings. This is to be a festive meal shared with Yeshua, and it is very holy to Him.

• The Hebrew word that is translated as solemn is actually moed (or moedim, which is plural), which means Appointed Time(s). Therefore this day is an Appointment with God––a day of reverence to Yahweh Yeshua.

• Since Rosh Chodesh is considered on the same level as Shabbat or a Feast day (Isaiah 1:13 & Ezekiel 46:1 & 3, & Amos 8:5), this day is considered a Shabbat rest, and it is a day off from work.

• First Restoration is considered to be an Appointed Season of God, according to 2Chronicles 2:4 & 31:3 & Nehemiah 10:33 & Ezekiel 45:17 & Hosea 2:11. In Ezra 3:5 we find out just a little more information: First Restoration (Rosh Chodesh) is a consecrated day, so we should treat it as a holy day. This day is most definitely a very important day to Yeshua, so if you are trying to figure out where you have gone wrong in your efforts to keep the Torah, this could be one area where you are disobeying God.

• In Psalm 81:3 we see that trumpets are blown on Rosh Chodesh, and in Numbers 10:10 you will not find it called New Moon nor even Rosh Chodesh, but that God tells us this day falls on the beginnings of your months, and this passage also tells us we are to blow the Trumpets on this day.

• In this same verse it speaks of Rosh Chodesh as a day of Memorial. This remembrance is God’s remembrance (Numbers 10:9). When the trumpets are blown, God’s people will be remembered before Yahweh. These are the silver trumpets that are to be blown, not the Shofar.
Numbers 10:10 is speaking of when God goes to war for us. So this also tells us that Rosh Chodesh is also a memorial to both God and us that He is the One who fights our battles. It is a day to remember God and our trust in Him to take care of us in all matters of our lives.

• Rosh Chodesh is a remembrance that falls at the beginning of each month that Yeshua has restored His true Word (Torah) to His people, and that He will in fact restore all Creation. Rosh Chodesh takes place every single month, restoring us to Yahweh Yeshua and His Word (Torah) each month. As we worship Him this day, we remember that Yeshua is our fence of protection as we come before Him in humility at the beginning of each month. And of course we also remember His gift of Redemption the first of each and every Hebrew month.