10 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Rosh Chodesh
Did you know that the moon marks time in the Biblical calendar?
The beginning of each Biblical month is not marked by a date on a wall calendar—but by the appearance of the new moon in the sky. The Hebrew phrase for this is Rosh Chodesh (ראש חודש), which means “head of the month.” It’s the first day of each new month according to the lunar cycle, which lasts approximately 29.5 days.
“This month will mark the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year for you.”
—Exodus 12:2 (TLV)
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Why does the moon matter?
The moon’s rhythm guided the ancient people of Israel. Long before apps or alarms, the phases of the moon told people when to travel, gather, and celebrate. Even today, you can feel the pull of creation’s rhythms when you notice the full moon lighting up the sky—or the quiet darkness of a new moon.
In Scripture, Rosh Chodesh is a time of renewal and restoration—a built-in monthly reset. While it’s considered a minor holiday (meaning work is permitted), it’s still a sacred opportunity to pause and acknowledge God’s perfect order in time.
Living Creation’s Rhythms Monthly
In antiquity, people planned their travel during a full Moon so that they would be able to travel by moonlight when needed. The full moon extends the day for other travel activities and visibility. Have you ever noticed how bright it is outside when there’s a full moon?
A new moon is the phase of the moon when it is in conjunction with the sun and invisible from earth. This makes it very dark outside. Because of this, people were more likely to stay home instead of travel. Back then this could have meant that fathers were home and families were together. I wonder what our lives would feel like if we lived according to nature’s cycles that were established at creation. Nowadays, people are always talking about how we can “connect to the universe” instead of our phones, but what if that was the plan from the beginning?
It would make sense, following God’s divine patterns, that a new month would also begin with — you guessed it — rest.
How was Rosh Chodesh celebrated in the Bible?
Scripture gives us several references to this beautiful rhythm:
Numbers 10:10 – Trumpets were blown as a memorial and offering to the LORD.
Numbers 28:11-15 – Instructions for the monthly burnt offering.
1 Samuel 20 – David and Jonathan gathered for a new moon meal.
Psalm 81:4 – "Blow the shofar at the New Moon..."
Isaiah 66:23 – In the Messianic age, all flesh will come to worship on Rosh Chodesh and Shabbat.
2 Chronicles 8:13, Leviticus 23 – Rosh Chodesh is acknowledged in the cycle of holy times.
The Biblical pattern is clear: God invites us into a rhythm of remembering.
How can I celebrate Rosh Chodesh in Modernity?
Here are 10 meaningful ways to celebrate Rosh Chodesh every month:
1. Give an offering. In Numbers 28:11, the Bible says to give an offering every first of the month. How much should you give? A tithe is ten percent of your income. An offering is any amount above and beyond your tithe. Pray about how much you should give every month and do whatever the Spirit leads you to do.
2. Gather together for fellowship with your family and community. If you or your community already have an activity once a month, consider doing it on Rosh Chodesh. This isn’t a commandment, just a neat idea to get into the Biblical lifecycles.
3. Bless your Wife or Mother – or yourself! Traditionally, Rosh Chodesh has become recognized as a “Woman’s holiday” in that, just like her monthly cycles, she should be given a special time of rest. Exactly what types of work women abstain from on Rosh Chodesh depends on her community and/or family custom. Some women don’t work at all, while others simply abstain from tedious household chores, such as laundry or cooking. If you don’t have a family or community custom – start your own! *Remember, this is traditional – not a Biblical command.
4. Make it a Date Night. This isn’t just for women—Rosh Chodesh is a time for men and women alike. Use this as a monthly reminder to nurture your marriage. Plan a date night with your spouse to celebrate the new month together. Order in, light some candles, and talk about the ways God has moved in your lives.
5. Learn the Rosh Chodesh blessing. Often Psalms and extra portions of the Torah are recited, and then, while looking at the moon, the following blessing is recited:
יהי רצון מלפניך יהוה אלהינו ואלהי אבותינושתחדש
עלינו חדש טוב באדנינו ישוע המשיח אמן“
ye-hi ra-tzon mil-fa-ne-kha ADONAI E-lo-hei-nu ve-lo-hey a-vo-tey-nushe-te-cha-desh a-ley-nu cho-deshtov, ba’a-do-ney-nu Yeshua ha-mashiach, amen.”
“May it be Your will, ADONAI, our God and God of our fathers, that you renew for us a good month in our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, amen.”
6. Buy a telescope and go stargazing. With the new moon making the sky dark, it’s the perfect time to look up. The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1)—take time to soak in the wonder of it all!
7. Blow the Shofar + Read Psalm 81. When you hear the sound of the shofar – your spirit should immediately stand still and listen. Blowing the shofar on the first of every month is a small way of saying, “God, I acknowledge that You rescued me in my time of trouble. You answered me from the hiding place of thunder. YOU are ADONAI our God who brought us up out of the land of Egypt – today is a special day and I am thankful.” In addition to reading Psalm 81, add Numbers 28:11-15 as an extra reading to your Torah portion that week. We read from this Bible translation. If you don’t have a shofar, get one here!
8. Have a camp fire. This is one of our favorite ways to celebrate Rosh Chodesh! We love having family and friends over to make s’mores together. At one of our recent new moons, my mother-in-love brought light-up balloons over for my one year old to chase around in our backyard (because fire and toddlers don’t mix well) and it was such a blast! Check out these balloons here! They definitely made the night feel like a party! And don’t forget the hot chocolate!
9. Teach your Children about the Moon. A simple monthly activity—like making moon phases out of Oreos or using a coloring page—can help your children build awareness of the Biblical calendar and God’s creation.
Living in Rhythm with God
Rosh Chodesh is a quiet invitation to live in step with God’s design for time. It reminds us that our days are not random—they are patterned by the Creator. Each new month is a moment to pause and say:
“Thank You, God, for bringing me into another month. I trust You with what’s ahead.”
If you’d like to go deeper into the biblical, cultural, and spiritual significance of Rosh Chodesh, I’ve created a course just for you. Take the course here.
Happy Rosh Chodesh!
