Have you ever felt like a circus performer, juggling a dozen balls at once? As a mom, I’m constantly balancing school schedules, meal planning, work deadlines, and family needs. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but there’s something deeply satisfying about taking charge of the chaos. This ability to control what we’re managing ā to exercise autonomy ā isn’t just a modern parenting skill. It’s actually a fundamental human need that’s woven throughout the Hebrew Bible.
What does it mean to truly take ownership of our lives, and how does the Hebrew Bible address this essential aspect of being human?
The answer lies in a special portion of the Hebrew Bible called Parashat HaChodesh (The Portion of the Month), which we read just before the month of Nissan begins. This reading contains one of the most significant commands given to the Israelites while still in Egypt ā the establishment of the Jewish calendar:
This commandment might seem administrative at first glance ā simply setting up a calendar system. But its timing and context reveal something much deeper. The Israelites were still enslaved in Egypt, yet God was already granting them control over something precious: time itself.
What made this particular commandment so unique? This was actually the first mitzvah (commandment) given to the Israelites as a nation. Before the plagues were completed, before the actual Exodus, God was already transferring authority to the people. In slavery, their time belonged to Pharaoh. Now, even while physically enslaved, they were spiritually free to determine when months began and ended.
Think about what this means: While still under Egyptian rule, the Israelites were told to take control of how they measured their days. The Hebrew word for month, chodesh, comes from the root meaning “new” or “renewal.” God wasn’t just giving a calendar; He was giving the gift of renewal ā the ability to start fresh, to take control.
This principle extends beyond the calendar to another significant development in the wilderness ā the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). After receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Israelites were commanded to build a portable sanctuary:
Notice the language here ā not “that I may dwell in it” but “that I may dwell among them.” The Mishkan wasn’t just about a physical structure but about creating a space where divine presence could be experienced through human action.
Both of these commandments ā establishing Rosh Chodesh (the new month) and building the Mishkan ā represent autonomous actions that the Israelites were empowered to perform. God didn’t impose a calendar on them; He said, “This month shall mark FOR YOU the beginning.” He didn’t build the sanctuary Himself; He instructed THEM to build it according to a pattern.
What’s striking is how these commands came at pivotal transition points. Rosh Chodesh was given as they moved from slavery to freedom; the Mishkan was established as they transitioned from the revelation at Sinai to the journey through the wilderness. In each case, God wasn’t doing things TO the people but rather inviting them to participate, to take ownership.
This pattern reveals a truth that speaks directly to us today: Real freedom isn’t just about being liberated from oppression; it’s about taking responsibility for what happens next. The Israelites weren’t merely freed from Pharaoh; they were freed FOR something ā the ability to sanctify time, to create sacred space, to build relationship with the divine through their own actions.
This biblical principle of taking action and responsibility extends to our modern world. Just as the Israelites were called to actively participate in shaping their covenant relationship with God, we too are called to actively participate in shaping the future of Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.
In our post-October 7th world, standing for Israel isn’t passive; it demands the same kind of active engagement that characterized the first mitzvot of Rosh Chodesh and the Mishkan. If you’re Jewish, you can vote directly in these elections and help determine how resources are allocated to support Israel. If you’re Christian, you can empower your Jewish friends by being part of Ten from the Nations – supporting them in this vital responsibility. The time for mere words has passed. Now is the moment to seize control of our destiny, just as our ancestors did at the edge of redemption. The Bible’s first national command wasn’t to pray or to waitāit was to act. The future of Israel depends not on what others decide for us, but on what we decide for ourselves. This is our Rosh Chodesh moment. The clock is ticking and the time for redemption is now.
