Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading.
Parshat HaChodesh is the special Torah reading for the Shabbat that falls before the month of Nissan, and it serves as a preparation for the upcoming festival of Passover (Pesach). It is named after the commandment in Exodus 12:1-20, where G-d instructs Moses and Aaron to declare the month of Nissan as the first month of the Jewish year. The parsha also details the first Passover sacrifice (Korban Pesach), the requirement to mark the doorposts with the lamb’s blood, and the prohibition of chametz (leavened bread) during the holiday. Parshat HaChodesh emphasizes themes of redemption and renewal, reminding the Jewish people of their historical deliverance from Egypt and the importance of observing the Passover commandments.
1st Aliya: Pekudei begins with an accounting of the materials used in the construction of the Mishkan. (gold = 4,386.5 lb./ silver = 15,088.75 lb./ copper = 10,620 lb.)
2nd & 3rd Aliyot: The Kohein Gadol’s [High Priest] breastplate and vest are described. The remaining garments of the Kohein Gadol and the other Kohanim [Priests] are detailed.
4th Aliya: Moshe inspects the completed Mishkan. Moshe certifies that the entire project followed the exact details of Hashem’s instructions. Moshe blesses the workers.
5th, 6th & 7th Aliyot: On the 1st day of Nissan, 2449, the Mishkan was assembled. After every vessel was properly in place, the presence of Hashem, the Shechina, descended in a cloud and filled the Mishkan.
The maftir reading for Shabbat HaChodesh comes from Exodus 12:1-20 (Parshat Bo), which outlines the commandment regarding the first Passover (Pesach) and the establishment of the month of Nissan as the first month of the Jewish year.
In Exodus 12:1-2, G-d commands Moses and Aaron to declare Nissan as the beginning of the Jewish calendar and the month in which the Israelites will be redeemed from Egypt.
In Exodus 12:3-6, each household is instructed to take a lamb on the 10th of Nissan, keep it until the 14th, and then slaughter it at twilight. The lamb must be a male, without blemish, and roasted whole.
In Exodus 12:7, the blood of the lamb is to be smeared on the doorposts and lintels of each house as a sign to protect the Israelites from the final plague, the death of the firstborn.
Exodus 12:8-11 details how the lamb is to be eaten with matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs in a specific manner: roasted, fully dressed, and eaten in haste, as the Israelites prepare to leave Egypt.
Lastly, in Exodus 12:15-20, the Israelites are commanded not to eat leavened bread (chametz) for seven days and to remove all leaven from their homes in preparation for the Passover festival.
The prophet Ezekiel describes the future restoration of the Temple and its associated rituals during the messianic era. The people of Israel will be required to bring various offerings, including grain, burnt, and sin offerings, to support the Temple and its services. Special observances, such as Rosh Chodesh (the new moon) and Passover (Pesach), will be marked by specific rituals. The "prince" (a messianic figure or future king) will play a central role, offering sacrifices on Shabbat and festivals and ensuring the proper observance of these holy days. The prince will have certain rights to offerings and a portion for his household but will not pass these rights onto his descendants, preventing the accumulation of wealth from the Temple. The prince's role is primarily to maintain the holiness of the Temple and lead the people in their religious duties. The passage emphasizes the importance of justice, holiness, and the central role of the Temple in the future, with a focus on the proper observance of rituals and offerings.