As leaves sprout and flowers bud, we choose renewal
For months, nature has appeared dead, the landscape covered in white burial shrouds of snow. With Nissan, the world becomes alive. Soft pinks, bright purples, shiny yellows, and clear greens appear as vegetation begins to sprout. A comforting breeze caresses our cheeks.
Why is Nissan so pleasant? Every month is connected to a pasuk that contains the four letters of Hashem’s name as either roshei teivos or sofei teivos. (These are written out in many siddurim next to Mussaf of Rosh Chodesh.) The pasuk connected to Nissan is “Yismechu haShamayim, v’sagel ha’aretz — the Heavens are happy, the earth rejoices.”
The word “v’sagel” shares the same root as l’galos, to reveal. The Heavens are joyous in Nissan because it’s the month of spiritual rebirth, of geulah, when our emunah in Hashem is sharpened. “V’sagel ha’aretz” — the earth reveals this happiness; it reflects it by a rebirth of its own.
The Heavens rejoice, all of creation is reborn. What is left for us to do? To join the process. We’re the only creatures with free will. We need to actively choose renewal in the month when all of creation rejoices in its rejuvenation.
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