וַיָּ֥קָם מֶֽלֶךְ־חָדָ֖שׁ עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע אֶת־יוֹסֵֽף׃
Kemudian bangkitlah seorang raja baru atas Mesir yang tidak mengenal Yusuf.
Sefat Emet
“This month is for you” (Exodus 12:2). This idea is for the redemption from Egypt. Because in exile, this renewal is missing. As it says, “and a new king arose” (Exodus 1:8). And at the time of redemption, which is when it is made clear that everything is the life force of Hashem. And from this comes renewal. Because the life force of Hashem has constant renewal, as it says, “renews every day, constantly” (Morning Prayers). And the explanation of “constantly” is every day. Only one who forgets and who is enmeshed in nature, about him it is written that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). But someone who is clinging to the internality of the life force of Hashem has constant renewal. And that is what is written, “this month is for you” (Exodus 12:2). That every person from Israel can awaken this renewal through faith, when he clarifies in his heart that everything is from Hashem. And this is the difference between the Sabbath and Rosh Chodesh. That the Sabbath is a trace of the World to Come, established and standing, that there is no hiddenness. As it is written, “disappear from it” (Zohar Terumah). But Rosh Chodesh is to illuminate even the weekday with renewal. And this is dependent on Israel, as it is written “to the God who completes for me” (Psalms 57:3; Shemot Rabbah 15:2). And this is what Rashi says, and what is written in the midrash, that Moshe, our teacher, had difficulty, until He showed him, “like this, see and sanctify…” (Rashi on Exodus 12:2, Midrash Tanchuma Shmini 8). And didn’t He only speak to him during the day? Rather… He showed it to him at nightfall (Rashi on Exodus 12:2). Because the aspect of Moshe, our teacher, is a clear vision, the aspect of the Sabbath. And this is the meaning of “and Moshe will rejoice” (Sabbath Morning Prayers). But the aspect of month is by way of faith, as we said above. And He showed it to him at the time of dark, at twilight. And it says “this” to let him know that Hashem and His name are one. And sometimes it has to be by way of faith in order to awaken the renewal, as we said above.