A Wedding Dance
‘It Is To Be Said While Standing…’
(Sanhedrin 42a)
R. Acha b Chanina said in the name of R. Assi who cited R. Yochanan that when one blesses the new month (Kiddush Levana) in its proper time (the first part of the month), it is considered as though he welcomed the Divine Presence. Tanna d’bei R. Yishmael emphasize the importance of this mitzvah – that would we have merited just this one monthly mitzvah, that would have sufficed.
Abaye notes the requirement of a special practice as regards this mitzvah due to its greatness (i.e., its being compared to welcoming the Divine Presence – Rashi, ad loc.) – that we are to stand when we recite the blessing.
Birkas HaMitzvos
Abaye’s statement presents a difficulty. The general rule is that all Birkas HaMitzvos – such as Sefiras HaOmer, lulav, shofar, megillah – are to be recited while standing. Therefore, what new halacha is Abaye teaching us?
A Pleasure
Margaliyos Hayam (ad loc.) rules that only Birkas HaMitzvos are recited while standing, but Birkos HaNehenin – blessings for matters for which we derive pleasure (eating, smelling, etc.) – are different: One sits while reciting them. Thus, we might reason that the blessing of Kiddush Levana is a Birkas HaNehenin – due to the pleasure we derive from the moon’s light. Abaye teaches that such is not the case, since we must recite it in a specific time as noted by R. Acha b. Chanina. Therefore, we are indeed to consider it a Birkas HaMitzvah.
An Important Mitzvah
The Gemara relates how important this mitzvah was to Mereimar and Mar Zutra, two elderly sages who had others carry them out and support them as they recited Kiddush Levana. Yad Rama (ad. loc.) explains that the Gemara’s term “mekasfi” (lit. were being shouldered) means they were carried out on their attendant’s shoulders.
Bach (O.C. 426), on the other hand, explains that they were placed shoulder to shoulder, and instead of reciting Kiddush Levana privately as a sign of respect, they would recite it together as if they were gathered en masse to greet a king. Bach adds that for this reason we recite the blessing under the open sky, as we are going out to greet the King – Hashem. He does, however, allow for one who is ill to recite the Kiddush Levana indoors, while looking through a window.
Meiri (ad. loc.) interprets even further that mekasfi means that they jumped while reciting Kiddush Levana. Rema (O.C. ad. loc.) develops this interpretation even further to mean they would dance. He explains that the Jewish people in galus are likened to Hashem’s estranged wife. The New Moon signifies that we will ultimately be privileged to renew our marriage and return to Hashem. Therefore, we rejoice and dance as we anticipate the renewal of our marriage vows and the resultant wedding celebration.
