Rosh Chodesh - Women's Custom

Q. I heard there is a custom for women to refrain from doing certain melachos (activities) on Rosh Chodesh. What is the basis for this?

A. The Tur Shulchan Oruch (OC 417) writes that is customary for women to not do melacha on Rosh Chodesh. The Tur sites as a source the Talmud Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Talmud) in the first chapter of Tractate Taanis. The Tur adds a second source from the Midrashic work known as Pirkei D’Rebbi Eliezer (Chapter 45). There it is stated that women observe Rosh Chodesh more than men (by not doing melacha). This was given to them as a reward because they refused to contribute their jewelry towards the building of the golden calf. The Magen Avrohom (OC 419:2) adds that by not doing melacha, women experience Rosh Chodesh as a YomTov.

There are many explanations why women were given this particular reward for not contributing to the golden calf. This is particularly surprising since the episode of the golden calf did not take place on Rosh Chodesh. The Rosh (Shemos 35) explains that the reward was given to them on Rosh Chodesh Nissan when the Mishkan was assembled. The women not only refused to contribute their jewelry to build the golden calf, but they eagerly donated their jewelry for the building of the Mishkan. At that point, it was clear that the earlier refusal to contribute was not because they cherished their jewelry, but because they recognized that the golden calf was sinful. Thus, because the women had a special share in the construction of the Mishkan which occurred on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, they were rewarded with the ability to experience Rosh Chodesh as a Yom Tov by not doing melachha.

Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt”l suggested an additional explanation in the name of his father, Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, zt”l.

The Talmud Yerushalmi (Pesachim 4:1) writes that the day that a person offers a korban is considered a holiday and one must refrain from doing melacha (certain work-type activities). When a person offers a korban, it is as though he is standing before Hashem and at such a time, it is improper for him to busy himself in trivial matters. The Yerushalmi asks that since the Korban Tamid (daily sacrifice) is brought every day on behalf of all Jews, we should never be allowed to work! The Yerushalmi answers that since this is not possible, each day a delegation (known as anshei ma’amad) was sent to the Beis Hamikdash to watch as the Korban was brought. These representatives stood before Hashem in our place, and only they were forbidden from doing melacha.

When the women refused to contribute to the Golden Calf yet donated generously to the construction of the Mishkan which was completed on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, they elevated themselves to the status of standing before Hashem. When the korban of Rosh Chodesh was brought, it was as though they were watching, and it was therefore considered their Yom Tov. By refraining every month from doing melacha on Rosh Chodesh, women demonstrate that they are still standing before Hashem. The korban of Rosh Chodesh remains their personal korban, and it is therefore improper for them to perform melacha on Rosh Chodesh.

Mishnah Berurah writes that this special observance is only for women, and there is no custom for men to refrain from work on Rosh Chodesh. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Halichos Shlomo) writes that many have the custom that only married women refrain from work. (To be continued)

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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.