Derasha on Bo 12:2 — Torah Temimah note 7

Parashas Bo · Shemos 12:2 · TT note 7

The Complete Passuk

הַחֹ֧דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם רֹ֣אשׁ חֳדָשִׁ֑ים רִאשׁ֥וֹן הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם לְחׇדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah on Shemos 12:2, note 7 (on לָכֶם) points to Rosh Hashanah 25b.

Sefaria — Exodus 12:2
Sefaria — Torah Temimah on Exodus 12:2
Sefaria — Rosh Hashanah 25b
E-Daf — Rosh Hashanah 25b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Rosh Hashanah 25b
אֵין לְךָ מוּמְחֶה לְרַבִּים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹתֵר מִמֹּשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ, וְקָאָמַר לֵיהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: עַד דְּאִיכָּא אַהֲרֹן בַּהֲדָךְ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל אַהֲרֹן בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר. הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם״.

English: There is no greater expert for the public in Israel than Moshe our teacher, and yet the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: only when Aharon is with you — as it is written, “Hashem said to Moshe and to Aharon in the land of Egypt, saying: This month shall be for you.”

Type of Learning

Derash on לָכֶם (plural): even a single outstanding expert may not sanctify the month alone; a court is required.

What Is Learned

Sanctification of the new month is not left to an individual, however expert; the verse’s plural address models the need for a court.