Shabbat Vayakhel

Rosh Hodesh Adar is coming up next week. The first Mitzvha that B’nei Yisrael receives as a collective unit is the announcement of a new month based on their own viewing of the new moon. It’s amazing how the first Mitzvah from the Torah was such a subjective command. It was up to us to acknowledge the presence of the moon.
Our Rabbis comment that the reason for our initial affinity to the moon is because of our similarities as a nation to the celestial orb. The moon waxes and wanes on a daily basis. First appearing as a humble sliver of light, then night after night it grows into full splendor climaxing mid month into full regalia. No sooner reaching its goal, the moon starts its modest retreat exiting the celestial stage. The sun on the other hand comes and goes as it pleases with a strong and dominant arrogance. Here one day, gone the next, literally.
The symmetrical phases of the lunar cycle also mimic the humble phases of a person’s life. A child learns to walk with assistance; the aged person eventually needs to walk with assistance etc.
Our humble beginning and what we can accomplish as a community, is in reality up to us and for the first time, man is in charge of his destiny, starting with his use of time.
Please see the following video below for an amazing example.