The Blessing of the Moon – What Lies Behind It and What Promise Is Hidden There for Us?

The beginning of the Hebrew month occurs on the day of the new moon or close to it, and for this, a special blessing is recited once a month – the Blessing of the Moon (Birkat HaLevana) or Sanctification of the Moon. The order of the Sanctification of the Moon comprises chapters of Psalms, verses, sayings of the Sages, and a central blessing. 

What is the significance behind the mitzvah of the Blessing of the Moon?

1. Gratitude and a testimony of faith. In this blessing, we express praise and gratitude for the heavenly lights that Hashem has created, and we thank Hashem for the renewal of the moon and all the reality and forces of nature that He created. This blessing for the renewal of the moon is a testimony by the one who blesses, acknowledging that the Creator of the Universe established the renewal of the moon, and all systems of nature and human works are from Hashem and there is none beside Him. We cannot see Hashem Himself, but we can see the wonders of creation, allowing us to know of Hashem's existence.

2. Greeting the Divine Presence. In the Talmud, it states: "Whoever blesses the moon in its time, is as if he greets the Divine Presence...If Israel had the merit of meeting their Heavenly Father every month - it would be enough for them" (Tractate Sanhedrin, page 42). If we had only one mitzvah and it was the Blessing of the Moon - it would suffice, and we have much for which to be thankful.

What is the connection between greeting the Divine Presence and the blessing on the renewal of the moon? During the time of the Holy Temple, we could make a pilgrimage and greet the Divine Presence, but now that the Temple is destroyed, we cannot greet the Divine Presence in this way. The renewal of the moon is a reminder that one day we will merit the rebuilding of the Temple, where the Divine Presence dwells. The Blessing of the Moon and the anticipated presence of the Divine Presence is considered as a greeting of the Divine Presence.

Here is the language of the Maharsha, one of the commentators on the Talmud and great Jewish scholars: "Since in their exile Israel are not worthy to see the Divine Presence and are far from receiving it, but the renewal of the moon is a sign for Israel that they are destined to be renewed, to glorify their creator by receiving the Divine Presence, as indicated by the text of the Blessing of the Moon. Therefore, when we bless the new month in its time, it is a sign that we are destined to be renewed, and it is as if we are greeting the Divine Presence" (Maharsha Chiddushei Aggadot, Tractate Sanhedrin, page 42).

3. A symbol of the Jewish nation. The Jewish people are referred to as 'those borne in the womb' based on the verse in Isaiah "Listen to me, house of Jacob and all the remnant of the house of Israel, carried from the womb, borne from birth" (Isaiah 46:3), meaning that even when we were in a fetal state in our mothers' wombs, in the house of Laban, already then Hashem carried us, loved us, and destined us to be His people. The Malbim, a biblical commentator, explains: "He likens Hashem carrying them to a woman who carries the fruit of her womb, first carrying it in the womb during the nine months of gestation, and afterward, carrying it in her hands after birth."

This designation for the Jewish people brings a message of love to us from the Creator of the Universe- even though in every generation, the nations of the world stand against us with the intent to destroy us, He will carry us on His arms, as Rashi explains: "Since you were born in the house of Laban the Aramean I have carried you on my arms, because from then idol worshipers rise against you in every generation...but you are carried and borne on my arms."

In the Blessing of the Moon, the symbolism of the lunar cycle is attributed to the Jewish nation. From the middle of the Hebrew month, the moon decreases, until it seems to disappear completely, and when the new month arrives, the moon is reborn and it grows and intensifies. So too the Jewish nation, which goes through periods of suppression and decline, but a day always arrives when it returns to growth and strength. The renewal of the moon is called 'a crown of splendor' for the Jewish people, as it testifies that after the decline and weakening of the Jewish nation, it is destined to rise again and renew itself just as the moon is renewed after its diminishing.

Also read:

Halachot of the Blessing of the Moon

The Text of the Blessing of the Moon