The Hebrew name for the New Moon is Rosh Chodesh meaning the head of the month. Nisan 1 is also known as Rosh Chodashim,meaning the beginning of months. Nisan 1 lies supreme in relation to other new moons because it is the first. It is the new moon of new moons since all other new moons are traced from it.

Nisan 1 is the Biblical New Year’s Holy Day, marking the beginning of the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt. It is also the first month used for counting the festivals of the Hebrew Biblical Calendar. 

Exodus 12:1-2 - The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you."

The first commandment given to Israel as a nation before they left Egypt was to establish the Biblical Calendar by counting the beginning of months, starting with the First Month of Nisan. Until then, the Calendar was still in God's hands as he hadn't yet revealed it to them. During this time, the Calendar fell into the hands of the Israelite nation. 

If the Jews lost the ability to trace Nisan 1, then the ability to track the appointed times would be lost, jeopardizing even the tracking of the Festivals and Holy days. The Hebrew Biblical Calendar is dependent on the appearance of Rosh Chodesh Nisan.

God appointed Nisan 1 as the beginning of Spring which inaugurates the Biblical Calendar. The following are the months of the Hebrew Calendar:

1. Nisan/Abib
2. Iyyar/Zif
3. Sivan
4. Tammuz
5. Av
6. Elul
7. Tishri/Ethanim
8. Cheshvan/Bul
9. Kislev
10. Tevet
11. Shevat
12. Adar
13. Adar II (In a leap year)

The name Nisan was not the original name for the first month. After the Babylonian exile, the name came up with them (Esth. 3:7, Neh. 2:1). Initially, the days of the months were known according to the sequence of their order, just as the days of the week were known as the first day, the second day and so on in creation. Later, however, the months were given other names. For example, the first month was called Abib, the second month Ziv, etc.

The arrival of Rosh Chodesh Nisan serves as an indicator that Passover, one of the pilgrimage feasts (Deut. 16:16), is close. We celebrate Passover on the 14th of Nisan (Lev. 23:5) and Unleavened bread from the 15th to the 22nd of Nisan (Lev. 23:6).

The command to sanctify Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the first new moon, as given to Israel in Exodus 12:1, shows the need to observe all new moons and holy days as revealed in the Torah. The celebration of Rosh Chodesh Nisan honors God as the Creator, Master and Controller of time.

Jewish tradition celebrates two main New Years, Nisan 1 and Tishri 1. On Tishri 1, God created the natural order, while in Nisan 1, He began the supernatural re-creation hence why we start the celebration of the festivals in Nisan. Nisan 1 is the biblical and truthful new year, unlike January 1 in the secular Gregorian Calendar. It’s noteworthy that the Julian Calendar, which preceded the Gregorian calendar, celebrated the New Year around March/April when Nisan falls.

Interestingly the Tabernacle (the temporary Temple) was completed and inaugurated on Nisan 1 (Exod. 40:2). Aaron and his sons were anointed and washed to serve in the priesthood. The children of Israel began to bring their offerings to the priests from that day.

Deacon Felix Wainaina