When Was the World Created: Nisan or Tishrei?

Sages have debated whether the world was created in Nisan or Tishrei.

In fact, there are two New Years: The Torah commands in Nisan – "This month shall be for you the beginning of months," and everywhere we count the months starting with Nisan. However, we celebrate Rosh Hashanah in Tishrei, and the Torah refers to Tishrei as "the year's end." Even the Sabbatical year and Jubilee start in Tishrei.

So why do we need two 'heads' and two starts to the year?

The sages also said that in Nisan, the thought of creation arose, and in Tishrei, the world was created.

The Maharal explains this idea: in the world, there are two opposite elements, like two courses of action. On one hand, the world is very orderly, governed by laws, presenting us with many challenges and difficulties. On the other hand, it can suddenly bless us with abundance, beauty, fruitful fields, joy, and happiness. This is how our lives appear, and this is how the world itself operates—a dry period, a storm, hard work, a collapse, a recession. And then suddenly: spring, blossoming, abundance, prosperity.

Reality confuses us. Does Hashem want to test us? Challenge us? Or perhaps indulge us?...

Therefore, the sages say, there are truly two courses in the world. In thought, in theory, it was meant to be a world of abundance and giving, created in Nisan, when everything is green and blooming, fields full of wheat, just reach out and touch them, harvest and bake fresh country bread... neither hot nor cold, venture into the forests, a great festival approaches, seven days of celebration. This is "the beginning of months" for us, it’s how we should conceive the ideal world, this first month, the loveliest month of the year.

But in reality, unfortunately, humanity sins. Just as Adam sinned and was expelled from Eden, we too, sadly, are far from perfect, far from deserving the eternal spring. Hence, in actuality, the world was created in Tishrei, in the fall. It's already cold, the ground is muddy, we have to work hard and sow, there's a judgment on various deeds we’ve done. This is the real earthly New Year.

But we always remember the spiritual New Year, the spring and Passover, whose essence symbolizes the days of the Messiah, an eternal spring, everlasting joy and abundance. With Hashem’s help, may we reach this soon.