Chelek 32, Emor 1
For learning all about the Yomim Tovim.
In chronological order they are written,
With the first month of Nissan the list does begin.
The Torah explains the Mitzvos of Pesach in the spring,
Then comes the Mitzvah of bringing the Omer offering and the Omer counting.
What follows is the bringing of the Two Loaves on Shavuos,
Next comes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and finally Sukkos.
Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi copied the order of the Torah,
When he arranged the tractates in Seder Moed of the Mishnah.
But the Rambam in his Mishneh Torah lists the Halachos in a different way,
After the laws of Shabbos and Eiruvin, he lists resting from work on Yom Kippur day.
Then he writes about the obligation,
To rest from work on all the Yomim Tovim.
Then comes Chametz and Matzah that we bake,
Followed by Shofar, Sukkah and Lulav that we shake.
For this specific order, the Maggid Mishneh explains the reason,
With the laws of Shabbos the Rambam does begin,
Because Shabbos was given in the Luchos with great publicity,
It is more stringent than the rest and it comes frequently.
For Yidishkeit, Shabbos is a foundation,
It is connected to creation,
What follows is Eiruvin, which is necessary,
If on Shabbos one wants to carry.
Yom Kippur is next because to Shabbos it does compare,
It is a day of atonement for the entire year.
The general principle of resting from work on Yom Tov is next in the Rambam's book,
Since it is less severe because we can carry and cook.
In order of severity and time the details in the Rambam then come,
Not eating Chametz on Pesach is number one,
Because it is worse to go against Hashem's will,
Then to skip a positive Mitzvah that Hashem wants us to fulfill.
Then comes the laws of Shofar, Sukkah and Lulav,
Which are relatively more lenient laws from above.
Next are all biblical: Shekalim, Kiddush Hachodesh and Taanis,
It concludes with Megillah and Chanuakah which are Rabbinic and easiest.
We can understand why the laws of the sacrifices the Rambam does omit,
Because in the Sefer of Avoda and Sefer Korbanos is where they best fit,
But how are the reasons given by the Maggid Mishneh,
Compelling enough for the Rambam to change the order set by the Torah?
Why are the laws of sanctifying the new moon placed at the end?
On Rosh Chodesh, the establishment of all the festivals entirely does depend!
Since in the Torah, Rosh Chodesh comes first and is the foundation,
Its laws should be placed before all the festivals in the Rambam's Sefer Zemanim.
What is even more puzzling,
Is that in the beginning of the Mishneh Torah's Mitzvah counting,
The Rambam does list the Mitzvos chronologically,
And the Mitzvah of sanctifying the new moon comes first actually!
To understand this we must first explain the verse that was chosen,
To be the introduction to Sefer Zemanim.
“I have taken Your testimonies as a heritage forever,
For they are the joy of my heart.” - Torah always gives us pleasure!
This Passuk does sound,
Contrary to Mitzvos that we do on holidays which are time bound,
Which is Sefer Zemanim's content,
Sefer Ahava is the one that is all about Mitzvos that are constant.
With the idea you might toy,
That this Passuk is brought because it ends with joy,
And on Yom Tov, joyful we are meant to be,
But joy doesn't define Yom Kippur and Shekalim exactly.
With this verse the Rambam is coming to define Sefer Zemanim's core,
The reason for the order of the Halachos in this Sefer is now in store!
Mitzvos whose obligation applies to a certain time, contains elements two,
The effect that the Mitzvah has on the time and on the Jew.
The difference between the Torah's order and the Rambam's order is clear,
The aspect of time the Torah does highlight and share.
The priority is Rosh Chodesh and the chronological order of the year,
Because Yom Tov is established based on when Rosh Chodesh we declare.
By Hashem the festivals are appointed,
From all other days they are separated,
As a result of their spiritual elevations they are proclaimed as sacred occasions,
And on those days a person must fulfill certain Mitzvah obligations.
On the other hand, the Rambam's goal,
Is focused on helping the person know how to fulfill their role.
The order goes according to theme from a person's view,
Starting with warnings and prohibitions for the most severe Aveiros that affect a Jew.
Rather than focusing on each holiday individually,
All those that require rest but allow US to cook and carry are in the next category,
Chametz, Matza, Shofar, Sukkah and Lulav are listed because action is our aim,
They are listed instead of each holiday's name.
Rosh Chodesh comes at the end of the line,
Because the Rambam here isn't focused on time.
Now we can understand why with this verse Sefer Hazmanim does start:
“I have taken Your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”
He wants to lay down a foundation,
For every holiday time bound Mitzvah obligation.
One might think that holiday Mitzvos are triggered by time only,
But the novelty is that the person has an obligation to fulfill them constantly,
When the Yom Tov comes around he can actually fulfill his obligation,
Which is like an inheritance that forever belongs to the person.
The end of the verse, “the joy of my heart” fits in perfectly,
The joy is ongoing not temporary,
With joy we can wake up all our days,
Because Mitzvos are constant and impact us in four ways.
Firstly, before Shabbos and Yom Tov draw near,
We plan, shop, cook and prepare.
Secondly, although these Mitzvos have a certain time,
They are given to me by Hashem and are always mine.
Thirdly, Shabbos and Yomim Tovim are a true testimony,
Which permanently establishes the reality,
That our relationship with Hashem is continuous and our greatest treasure,
The impact of the Mitzvos lasts all year and forever.
The fourth point is that since the holidays’ Mitzvah energies are always accessible,
Like a smorgasbord, freedom, forgiveness, joy etc… are constantly available,
When we use it to serve Hashem on a regular day,
To holiness, ordinary time is transformed right away!
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