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Nshei Chabad Newsletter / The mitzvos of honoring Shabbos and taking pleasure in it apply to all Yomim Tovim, including Rosh Hashana, but not to Chol Hamoed (AlterRebbe'ss Shulchon Aruch, Ch. 529, Par. 5). |
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Nshei Chabad Newsletter / However, Chol Hamoed does have a mitzvah which Rosh Hashana does not have, and that does apply on Chol Hamoed - that each man should be happy and joyous, and he should strive to help his wife, children, relatives, and guests to be happy and joyous as well. This applies to all the days of Shevuos, Pesach and Sukkos, including Chol Hamoed (AlterRebbe'ss Shulchon Aruch, Ch. 529, Par. 6). |
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Nshei Chabad Newsletter / How does he help them - one's wife, children and relatives - to be happy? He gives treats to the small children; he buys clothing and jewelry for his wife according to his means; and the men should drink wine and eat meat. The minhag is to prepare more foods for Yom Tov than for Shabbos; similarly, Yom Tov clothing should be better than Shabbos clothing (AlterRebbe'ss Shulchon Aruch, Ch. 529, Par. 7). |
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Nshei Chabad Newsletter / This article is based on the Sefer Likutei Dinei Uminhogei Rosh Chodesh by Rabbi Chaim Rappaport, compiled per theRebbe'ss directive and published by Kehot in 1990. Except for the first 2 paragraphs, the laws and customs apply to both men and women. Rosh Chodesh has special significance for women. Since they refused to give their jewelry for the Golden Calf, Hashem rewarded them to observe Rosh Chodesh more than men. To explain this, the Yomim Tovim correspond to our Patriarchs . Pesach corresponds to Avrohom, as it says, "Knead and make cakes", which our Sages say were Matzohs, as it was Pesach. Shovuos is connected to Yitzchok because the Shofar of Mattan Torah came from Yitzchok's ram. Sukkos is connected to Yaakov, as it says, "And for his livestock he made Sukkos". The 12 Roshei Chodoshim are also called Moiadim and they correspond to the 12 Tribes. When the men sinned with the Golden Calf, these Moiadim were taken away from them and given to their wives, because they had no part in this sin (Likutei Dinei Uminhogei Rosh Chodesh , Chapter 3, Paragraph 1). |
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Nshei Chabad Newsletter / Although work is permissible on Rosh Chodesh, the Minhag is that women don't do certain kinds of work - sewing, knitting, laundering, pressing and ironing. There are many Poskim, however, who permit women to prepare the use of an automatic washing machine. The P'ri Megodim rules that washing clothing which are needed for Rosh Chodesh is certainly permissible. The Oruch Hashulchon writes that working women may do work on Rosh Chodesh (Likutei Dinei Uminhogei Rosh Chodesh, Ch. 3, Par. 1, Footnote 2). |
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Nshei Chabad Newsletter / It is forbidden to fast on Rosh Chodesh (Likutei Dinei Uminhogei Rosh Chodesh, Ch. 4, Par. 1). |
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Nshei Chabad Newsletter / There is no obligation to eat bread or Challoh on Rosh Chodesh, as there is on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Nevertheless, it is a Mitzvoh to eat more on Rosh Chodesh during the daytime. Therefore, it is good to also eat bread (Likutei Dinei Uminhogei Rosh Chodesh, Ch. 5, Par. 1). |
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Nshei Chabad Newsletter / If someone began his meal on Rosh Chodesh and it continued into the night, after Rosh Chodesh was over, he still says Yaale V'yovo when Bentching. If, however, he davvened Maariv during the meal, even if he davvened early and it isn't dark yet, he does not say Yaa'le V'yovo (Likutei Dinei Uminhogei Rosh Chodesh, Ch. 5, Par. 8). |
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/ If he began eating on Erev Rosh Chodesh and his meal continued into the nighttime, he says Yaale V'yovo if he ate at least a K'zayis on Rosh Chodesh (Likutei Dinei Uminhogei Rosh Chodesh, Ch. 5, Par. 9). |
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