based on an article by Rabbi Chaim Avihu Schvartz, Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav, yeshiva.org.il, translated by Hillel Fendel.
A lesson in honor of the approaching month of Nissan, the month of redemption
When discussing the relative values and the special events of different Jewish months, the Mishnaic Sages agree that Israel was redeemed from Egypt in the month of Nissan. However, the world was created in Tishrei and will also be redeemed again in Tishrei, according to R. Eliezer's view, while R. Yehoshua holds that these two events will happen in Nissan.
What is special about these two months?
The Torah tells us: "This month [Nissan] is the head of the months for you; it is first for you among the months of the year" (Sh'mot 12,2). Nissan marks the beginning of Israel's redemption from Egypt. Redemption is true physical and spiritual independence, and the month of Nissan is a special reality of the nation of Israel. Israel does not live according to the time-routine of the Gentiles, but rather according to its own system of time. As the Maharal of Prague explains, the above mitzvah of regarding Nissan as the primary month, and specifically of sanctifying and declaring the new month as the new moon is sighted, was the first one commanded to Israel as a nation. This means that the Torah begins by having us understand that Israel has a unique reality of time, different than the rest of the world.
The Difference Between Nissan and Tishrei
Nissan and Tishrei are the two primary months in terms of the sanctity of time. The Maharal explains that Nissan is the "first-born" of the months, as indicated in the above verse, and that in general, the Exodus has many elements of "first-born:" the smiting of the Egyptian first-borns, the mitzvah of "sanctifying the first-born" among both Jews and certain animals, and more.
In addition, Nissan marks the beginning of the year in terms of months – what the Torah calls here Rosh Chodashim, "the head of the months." Continuing with the Maharal, he says that just as in the physical body, the most important organs are the head (thought) and heart (the encounter with life), so too with the months: Nissan is heart, and Tishrei is mind.
That is, Tishrei stands for intellect, the time of judgement. The days from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur are when we give a detailed accounting of how we are living our lives and how we use our Free Will. Just like our intellect is holy in that it is man's most spiritual and supreme force, so too the month of Tishrei is holy. Though the year begins in Tishrei, in terms of months it is number seven, which is known as a holy number. The Medrash tells us that "seven was chosen for sanctity in days, months, and years: The seventh day is the Sabbath, the seventh month is Tishrei, and the seventh year is Sh'mitah." Tishrei is thus sanctified with the holiness of thought and intellect.
Nissan, on the other hand, is heart – that which sends out blood and gives life to the entire body. The Torah commands us to make sure (via the mechanism of leap years) that Pesach occurs in chodesh ha'aviv, the month of spring (Nissan); spring represents the annual return of plants and trees to life, and it is in Nissan when we recite the Blessing on Trees, birkat ha'ilanot. In Nissan, the entire world is renewed, and new life is revealed in Creation.
When Was the World Created?
There are two opinions in the Gemara regarding the date of Creation. R. Eliezer says it happened in Tishrei, while R. Yehoshua says it was in Nissan. Ultimately, Rabbeinu Tam of the 12th-century Tosafists says that the Rabbinic principle both opinions are the word of the living G-d" applies here: the first Divine thought to create the world was in Tishrei, while in Nissan it was actually created.
Based on this, we can say that there are two stages in Creation: The first was in Tishrei, with the creation of the world in G-d's supreme inner thought, but still only in potential. The second stage was in Nissan, when the potential was manifest and the physical world came into being.
Nissan: The Point of Connection
What then is the argument between the two above Sages? R. Eliezer held that it was appropriate for G-d to create the world in Tishrei, because of its sanctity and its high level. Just as the intellect - the head - is the most spiritual part of the body, so too Tishrei is the same among the months – close to G-d and ready for the creation of the world.
R. Yehoshua, on the other hand, was of the opinion that Nissan was the best choice for Creation, because it is the first of the months, closer than the others to the Divine source "above time." This is Nissan's special holiness, and in this way it is closest to G-d. The other months are physical and material, compared to Nissan.
Nissan is thus differentiated from the other months. We count the years since Creation from Tishrei, but in terms of the inner aspects of the Congregation of Israel, the year begins with Nissan – the point at which the year connects with the Divine source.
We, for ourselves, can sanctify any day of the year via Torah study, total self-dedication, and the like – but because of Nissan's special properties, we can come closer to G-d during this month than in any other month.
Nissan is thus a month of miracles as well; its meaning in Aramaic is "our miracles." This is because Nissan is the point of connection between reality and that which is beyond nature. Nissan has historically been a month of many miracles for the Jewish People.
Similarly, our bread on Pesach - matzah - is Divine bread of holiness; it has no yeast or chametz of the Yetzer Hara. Regular bread is different in that it has yeast, and its baking time is different – again showing that Nissan is the month of the ultimate connection between nature and the Divine source. Nissan is therefore particularly appropriate for Redemption, may it be speedily in our days, Amen!
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