Summary of Haftarat Shabbat HaChodesh
Shabbat HaChodesh is the last of the four special Sabbaths that come before the month of Nisan: Sheklim, Zachor, Parah, and HaChodesh. On the fourth of the four special Sabbaths, they read the passage of Exodus 12:1-20 that begins, “This month shall be for you, ( HaChodesh hazeh lachem). The Mishnah explains that on the Sabbath before the new moon of Nisan, we replace the regular maftir reading from the Torah with Exodus 12:1-20, the instructions for the Passover sacrifice that God gave to Israel on the new moon of Nisan. Shabbat HaChodesh is a two-week notice to prepare for Passover.
The Tosefta designates the passage beginning in Ezekiel 45:18 as the appropriate haftarah passage for Shabbat HaChodesh. That verse begins with the words, “ In the first month, on the first of the month.” The haftarah goes to describe ceremonies in the future Temple, of the Messianic Age.
After Messiah’s arrival, the Third Temple will be consecrated in a ceremony beginning on the new moon, (rosh chodesh,) of Nisan. According to the Torah, Moses consecrated the Tabernacle in the wilderness on the new moon of Nisan. Ezekiel describes Passover-like rituals that will take place at the future consecration ceremony, and he introduces laws pertaining to the celebration of Passover in the Messianic Age. The combination of a ceremony on the new Moon of Nisan and the Passover imagery make this haftarah portion a natural choice for the Shabbat HaChodesh.
Ezekiel 45:16-46:18
From FFOZ Voice of the Prophets
Ffoz.org