Bo 5771

"This month shall be the head of the months for you. It shall be the first of the months of the year for you." (Shemot 12:2)

In this week's parsha, B'nai Yisrael (the Children of Israel) finally are granted freedom from Egyptian slavery. Before this occurs, G-d instructs Moshe (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron) to institute a new calendar to replace the one the Egyptians use. The new calendar, still in use today, is based on the cycle of the moon and begins with Nisan, the month in which B'nai Yisrael leave Egypt, and the month in which Passover is observed.

What is the significance of the new lunar calendar? What can we learn from the timing of its institution?

The declaration of a new calendar to replace the Egyptian method of counting time marks Israel's final break with Egypt. While enslaved in Egypt, the Israelites do not have control of how they spend their time. They must do only what their Egyptian taskmasters force them to do; they work so hard that they have no energy or desire to achieve anything else. Each day is the same as the one before, painful and monotonous, with no opportunity to choose a different path. They cannot even dream of, or hope for, a different future.

With liberation from slavery, everything changes. As free people, we can choose how to use our time. This does not mean that we can waste time or fill our time with meaningless activities. Nor does it mean that we can do whatever we want. The "free" time we have is a gift from G-d that we are entrusted with for a limited time. Our time on Earth is short; we must make the most of every moment. The time we "lose", or squander on mindless pursuits, can never be replaced.

As busy parents living in a 24/7 world, how can we make the most of our limited time? How can we help our children to develop an appreciation of, and respect for, time?

The Jewish calendar is full of opportunities to transform ordinary time into sacred time. We have Shabbat (the weekly Sabbath), Rosh Chodesh (the new month), Rosh HaShana (the new year), and many Y'mai Tovim (holy days.) Each of these is an opportunity to remember that we are no longer enslaved; we can stop work and take time to rest and renew ourselves, to spend time with our loved ones, and to give thanks and praise to the One who gave us the ultimate freedom, the gift of time.