When we celebrate “Shabbat Rosh Chodesh,” we add the special “Hallel” prayer to the regular Shabbat Shacharit, and the Musaf is also adjusted to reflect that it is both Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh.
However, this particular Rosh Chodesh Iyar also marks the beginning of the “Sefira” mourning period for the twenty-four thousand students of Rabbi Akiva who perished at this time of year.
So—is it a happy Rosh Chodesh, or a sad one?
This may lead us to the following thought:
Almost everything in this world is a mixture of joy and sadness. Even the greatest moments in our lives are often accompanied by a trace of sorrow. As a little example: Moving into a beautiful new home is frequently coupled with a sense of sadness about leaving one’s childhood home.
Now, needless to say, this example cannot in any way be compared to the tragedy mentioned above. The point I would like to make is this:
One of the important aims of our lives is to try, בעזרת השם (with G-d’s help), to reach a “positive balance,” ensuring that we experience as many joyful moments as possible, while minimizing the less happy and, חס וחלילה (G-d forbid), sad times.
Obviously, much of this is not in our hands. However, our approach to life and our acceptance of this “mix” can work wonders and significantly improve the ratio of joy in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
Shabbat Shalom and a Happy Chodesh Iyar
Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld