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ROSH CHODESH ADAR: KAVANOT


We derive the appellation for God’s Name, used in the Rosh Chodesh Mussaf – Additional Prayer – for Rosh Chodesh Adar from the combination of letters and vowels of the following verse: “he will tie his donkey to the vine; to the vine branch his donkey’s foal.” (Genesis 49:11)


“V’lasoreikah b’ni atono,” “To the vine branch his donkey’s foal.”


I. Or Hachaim Hakadosh
The verse is speaking of the arrival of the Messiah who will tie his donkey to the vine, i.e. Israel, which is compared to the vine in Psalms 80:9: “You plucked up a vine from Egypt, You expelled nations and planted it.” The donkey in this verse refers to the other nations.


The “Soreika” is an especially long vine, as the branch to which the Messiah will tie his donkey. Jacob makes a distinction between the male and female souls that originate in the domain of Klipah – Shells.


When speaking of Israel as a whole, he describes the Messiah as tying the male, other nations, to the whole vine, whereas when speaking of the females of the other nations, he speaks of tying them to a single branch of the vine. Our part of the verse speaks of the females, being tied, or connected with the root souls of Israel.


Purim, which occurs in the month of Adar, was a major stage in redemption, Oral Law, and in preparing Israel for the long exile ahead. This month is our opportunity to reconnect to that Shefa – Divine Influence – of Redemption. We pray on Rosh Chodesh to experience and receive that Influence so we may experience Redemption on a personal and national level.


The Purim miracle was brought about by a woman, the subject of this phrase of the verse. Esther was a Tikkun – a fixing of the sin of Chava. This month is a propitious time to repair relationships between men and women and for people to pray to find their proper soul mate.


II. Ibn Ezra
The Ibn Ezra explains that the vintage will be so abundant the one will bind his donkey to a vine, unconcerned whether it eats the grapes.


The Shefa of this month is abundant, and we pray on Rosh Chodesh to be vessels that can receive, and act with all the Shefa that is available.


By:  Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, n''y 

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