What is rosh chodesh prayer?

Rosh Chodesh Prayer

Rosh Chodesh (ראש חודש, "the New Month") is marked by a special set of prayers and liturgical additions that sanctify the beginning of the Hebrew lunar month. On Rosh Chodesh, the regular daily prayer service is enhanced with several unique insertions and an additional prayer service, most notably Mussaf (the additional service), Ya'aleh V'yavo, and Hallel.

Key Takeaways

Rosh Chodesh prayer includes special additions to the regular Shacharit (morning), Mincha (afternoon), and Maariv (evening) services.
Ya'aleh V'yavo is a special paragraph inserted into the Amidah and Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals) on Rosh Chodesh.
Mussaf (the additional Amidah) is a unique prayer recited only on Rosh Chodesh, Shabbat, and holidays, corresponding to the additional Temple sacrifice of the day.
Hallel (Psalms 113–118) is recited on Rosh Chodesh, though in an abbreviated (half-Hallel) form.
If one misses a prayer on Rosh Chodesh, there are specific rules for making it up, including repeating the Rosh Chodesh Amidah.

The Structure of Rosh Chodesh Prayer

1. Ya'aleh V'yavo — יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא

Ya'aleh V'yavo is a special paragraph added to the Amidah (the central standing prayer) in all three daily services on Rosh Chodesh, as well as to Birkat HaMazon. It is a petition asking God to remember us favorably on the New Month.

The Tosefta Kifshutah on Berakhot notes that Ya'aleh V'yavo was historically called Kedushah HaYom (sanctification of the day) in the Land of Israel, because it is only recited on days that have a Mussaf prayer — demonstrating its deep connection to the sanctity of the day [Tosefta Kifshutah on Berakhot 3:8:6].

Its placement in the weekday Amidah is within the blessing of Avodah (Temple service), since its primary origin was connected to the Mussaf sacrificial prayers.

What if you forget Ya'aleh V'yavo?

The Shulchan Arukh rules that if one forgot to recite Ya'aleh V'yavo in the Mincha (afternoon) prayer on Erev Rosh Chodesh (the eve of Rosh Chodesh), one prays the Rosh Chodesh evening Amidah twice — the first as the regular Maariv, and the second as a make-up (tashlumin) for the missed Mincha [Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 108:9].

2. Mussaf — מוּסָף (The Additional Prayer)

Mussaf literally means "additional." It corresponds to the Korban Mussaf (additional sacrifice) that was offered in the Temple on Rosh Chodesh, Shabbat, and Yom Tov.

The Rosh Chodesh Mussaf Amidah contains a special middle blessing that:

Acknowledges God's sanctification of Rosh Chodesh
Recalls the Temple service (Avodah)
Includes the biblical passage describing the Rosh Chodesh sacrifice (Numbers 28:11–15)
Prays for the restoration of the Temple

The Siddur Edot HaMizrach (the prayer book of Eastern Jewish communities) includes an introductory Leshem Yichud (declaration of intent) before Mussaf of Rosh Chodesh, expressing the worshipper's intention to unify the Holy One and the Shechinah (Divine Presence) through prayer:

"הִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ בָּאִים לְהִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת מוּסָף שֶׁל רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ שֶׁתִּקְּנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה" "We come to pray the Mussaf prayer of Rosh Chodesh as instituted by our Sages of blessed memory" [Siddur Edot HaMizrach, Rosh Chodesh Mussaf].

When Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbat, a combined Shabbat-Rosh Chodesh Mussaf is recited, which includes both the Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh themes in a single expanded blessing [Siddur Edot HaMizrach, Rosh Hodesh, Mussaf 2].

3. Hallel — הַלֵּל

Hallel — Psalms 113–118 — is recited on Rosh Chodesh in an abbreviated form known as Chatzi Hallel (half-Hallel), omitting portions of Psalms 115 and 116.

The Talmud [Taanit 28b] discusses why only Chatzi Hallel is said on Rosh Chodesh (as opposed to the full Hallel on the Shalosh Regalim — the three pilgrimage festivals), since Rosh Chodesh is not a full Yom Tov (holiday).

4. Torah Reading

A special Torah portion (Numbers 28:1–15, describing the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices) is read from the Torah on Rosh Chodesh morning, with four aliyot called up to the Torah.

5. Musach HaTefillah — The Scriptural Basis

The obligation to offer special prayers on Rosh Chodesh is rooted in the verse:

"וּלְעׇבְד֔וֹ בְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם" — "And to serve Him with all your heart" [Deuteronomy 11:13].

The Sages derived from this verse (avodah shebalev — service of the heart) that prayer is the primary form of Divine service today in the absence of the Temple [Taanit 2a].

6. Maariv (Evening Prayer) on Rosh Chodesh

On the night of Rosh Chodesh, Ya'aleh V'yavo is added to the Maariv Amidah. There is a well-known debate among the Rishonim (early medieval authorities) as to whether Maariv on Rosh Chodesh night is obligatory or optional, which affects rulings about making up a missed Rosh Chodesh Maariv.

Summary of Special Rosh Chodesh Prayer Elements

| Prayer | Addition/Change | |--------|----------------| | Shacharit (morning) | Ya'aleh V'yavo in Amidah; Hallel (half); Torah reading | | Mussaf | Full additional Amidah for Rosh Chodesh | | Mincha (afternoon) | Ya'aleh V'yavo in Amidah | | Maariv (evening) | Ya'aleh V'yavo in Amidah | | Birkat HaMazon | Ya'aleh V'yavo inserted |

*For personal guidance on specific halachic questions regarding Rosh Chodesh prayer — such as what to