Rosh Chodesh - Announcement

Announcement

Despite the existence of a fixed calendar, Rosh Chodesh is still announced in synagogues on the preceding Shabbat (called Shabbat Mevarchim—The Shabbat of Blessing ). The announcement is made after the reading of the sefer torah, before returning it to the aron kodesh, in a prayer beginning "May it be Your will... that You renew this month for us for good and for blessing." The name of the new month, and the day of the week on which it falls, is given during the prayer. Some communities customarily precede the prayer by an announcement of the exact date and time of the new moon, referred to as the molad, or "birth". Rosh Chodesh Tishrei (which is also Rosh HaShana) is never announced.