Rosh Chodesh, the head of a new month, begins with the new moon. In ancient times, Rosh Chodesh was celebrated for 3 days, as soon as the new moon was sighted.
Actually, the new moon is not a moon at all. For two days, the night sky is black and moonless, usually on the third night the moon appears at dusk as a dark disc in the western sky. It has just the slightest haze around it. This is when it begins to reflect the light of the sun.
The new moon is referred to as the "birth". After two days of darkness the moon is seen as being "born again". This expression, "born again" used by Jesus, was not a new term in His day. It was already used and understood in Israel. When Gentiles from the surrounding nations came up to Jerusalem seeking God,they came out of the darkness of paganism into the light of God and were "born again," just as the new moon emerges from darkness and is also "born again."
Like the moon which has no light of its own,but reflects the sun's light, the one who comes to the God of Israel begins to reflect God's light. Through Jesus, Jews and non-Jews may emerge from spiritual darkness and be "born again," and reflect the Son's light,just like the new moon.
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