Holiness of Rosh Chodesh

Question

What is the holiness level of Rosh Chodesh? Seemingly it lies somewhere between an ordinary weekday and Shabbat/Yom Tov. On Shabbat, 39 activities are prohibited and Musaf is recited. On Yom Tov, most of those 39 activities are prohibited and Musaf is recited. On Rosh Chodesh, none of those 39 activities are prohibited, but Musaf is still recited. Where does that place Rosh Chodesh on the holiness scale?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    Good question! Rosh Chodesh is regarded mostly as a regular weekday but it has some dimensions of Yom Tov as well. That means that it is definitely holier than weekday but it is not as holy as Yom Tov.

    Interestingly enough the Rabbis teach that Rosh Chodesh is a time that is special for women. The Rabbis explain that because the women would not participate in the sin of the Golden Calf Hashem rewarded them with the semi-festival of Rosh Chodesh. That is why many women have the custom not to do laundry and sewing on Rosh Chodesh.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team