“This month shall be for you the beginning of the months, it shall be for you the first of the months of the year.” (Shemot 12:2)

“Kiddush Hachodesh (the sanctification of the new moon) was the very first commandment given to the Jewish nation as a whole…

One of only three commandments that the Greeks prohibited. The other two were Shabbos and Milah (circumcision).

Rosh Chodesh, the start of the new month, symbolizes renewal. Just as the moon disappears at the end of each month but returns and grows to fullness, so too the Jewish nation has the ability to rise up [from prior challenges and falls, and renew itself].

Everyone makes mistakes. The problem is that when a person feels guilty about what he has done wrong and sees himself as a failure, he may give up and lose the strength to keep trying to grow. In order to avoid this, he must recognize that although he has made a mistake he can always get back up, dust himself off and start again.”