Parshas Hachodesh

The Ramban says that Sefer Shemos details Yitzias Mitzraim which was the creation and birth of the nation of Yisroel and ends with the building of the Mishkon which was a creation and building of a home for Hashem in this world. (We find that the building of the Mishkon parallels the creation of the world - hence the thirty nine melochos of Shabbos are the same as the thirty nine melochos of the building of the Mishkon.) We also find the creation and giving of the Torah in the sefer of Shemos. In each of thees three 'creations' we find that Rosh Chodesh plays a role. The Mitzva Klal Yisroel was given before they started the preparations for the night they became a nation was Rosh Chodesh. The Shelah says that the creation of Klal Yisroel was actualy on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. (That is why we say in the Haggadah 'Yachol m'Rosh Chodesh'- One would think the mitzva of sepor yitzias Mitzraim starts on Rosh Chodesh Nissan.) Incidentally (or is it?) Rashi in Parshas Beraishis points out that it would've been proper to start the Torah from that point with the Mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh. The Mishkon was finished in Kislev but wasn't dedicated until Nissan on Rosh Chodesh. We find the same thing at the creation of the world. (After all, all of these creations mirror each other for they are all the same thing as we say Shabbos by Mincha- "Atah Echod - the world, veshimcha echod - the Torah, umi K'amcha Yisroel goy echod- Klal Yisroel.") The last day of creation- the first Friday was also Rosh Chodesh.

What is it about the day of Rosh Chodesh that plays such a prominent role in the creation of the universe and of Klal Yisroel?

We end the middle brocha of the Shabbos Shemona Esrah with "mekadash haShabbos"- Hashem is the one who sanctifies Shabbos. While on Yom Tov we say "Mekadash Yisroel v'hazmanim"- He sanctifies Yisroel who in turn sanctify the seasons. Shabbos comes every week and its kedusha is given to us as a gift from Hashem, we don't have to do anything to make the day holy- that's Hashems 'job'. Yom Tov on the other hand gets its kedusha from Klal Yisroel. The process in which Bais Din decides what day Rosh Chodesh will be is called 'Kiddush Hachodesh'- Bais Din, as the representatives of Klal Yisroel go ahead and impart Kedusha into the day of Rosh Chodesh and thus sanctifying the whole month.

The message of Rosh Chodesh is that Klal Yisroel has the power to sanctify the whole creation with their deeds. No creation was ever complete without the contribution from us humans. When we act with kedusha all of the universe is uplifted and sanctified.

Based on my understanding of a Mamor from R' Meir Belsky Shlita.

For another look at Parshas Hachodesh click here.

Parshas Hachodesh

There are two opposite ways that Hashem runs the world. One is 'hashgachah klallis' That the world runs just like a worldly kingdom. The king sits on his throne taking advice from his aides and making decisions for his kingdom. When a decision comes forth from the king he relays it to the minister in charge of that aspect and the minister thus relays it to the local governors and so on and so forth until everyone that is affected by the kings decision knows about it and the police enforce it. So too Hashem runs his world e.g. that rain should fall in New York- Hashem decrees that it shall rain and sends forth his decision to the angels in charge of the region of New York they 'arrange' that the rain ministers should send rain. Those ministers thus gather the clouds who make the rain. Everything is run in the most orderly fashion.
The second way hashem runs this world is that Hashem alone is in charge of every aspect. Hashem makes and carries out all his decrees personally- without any intermediaries.
The world in general runs according to te first way. The second fashion is reserved for Klal Yisroel- and that started at Yitzias Mitzraim when Hashem himself- not thru a angel - took the Jews out of exile.
The two approaches are exhibited in our yearly calendar. While most most of the world (There is an obvious question someone please ask it) goes according to the sun-the solar calendar, Klal Yisroel counts the months according to the lunar calendar- but is still influenced by the solar calendar which leaves us with leap years.
The seforim explain that the sun's cycle is just a natural go around, every year it goes around the earth. This would symbolise the first way that Hashem runs his world. A world in which Hashem stays behind the scenes and everything is carried out through different emissaries. As apposed to the moon which is not just a natural cycle but rather Hashem actually recreates the moon every month. (Hence we say Kiddush Halevonah every month). This is an exact parallel to the relationship between Hashem and Yisroel. Hashem is actively recreating and intimately involved in our every move.
With the above in mind we understand why the mitzva of Kiddush Hachodesh was given right before Yitzias Metzraim- and that we read Parshas Hachodesh this week. For the moon is an exact example of the relationship Klal Yisroel forged with Hashem at Yitzias Mitzraim.