Honoring Rosh Chodesh

Q. How does one honor Rosh Chodesh?

A. Shulchan Aruch (OC 418:1) writes that it is forbidden to fast on Rosh Chodesh. The Beiur Halacha (418, s.v. Rosh Chodesh) adds that one is not even permitted to fast for part of the day (taanis sha’os). On the contrary, on Rosh Chodesh there is a mitzvah to increase one’s meal (Shulchan Aruch OC 419:1). Although there is no specific requirement to eat bread on Rosh Chodesh, it is proper to eat a full seuda. The Mishnah Berurah writes that it is proper to honor Rosh Chodesh by preparing an extra dish that one would not ordinarily have served. The same is true even when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos. Furthermore, Chazal tells us that just as the expenditures for Shabbos do not diminish the portion that Hashem has allotted to us for the year, so too with the expenditures for Rosh Chodesh. Women have an additional way to honor Rosh Chodesh, by refraining from doing certain forms of melacha.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.