| Rosh Hashanah LaBehemah | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Hebrew: ראש השנה לבהמה English: New Year for (Domesticated) Animals |
| Observed by | Jews in Judaism |
| Type | Jewish |
| Significance | Tithing domestic animals |
| Date | 1st of Elul, or first day of Tishrei according to other opinions |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Four New Years |
Rosh Hashanah L'Ma'sar Behemah (Hebrew: ראש השנה למעשר בהמה "New Year for Tithing Animals") or Rosh Hashanah LaBehemah (Hebrew: ראש השנה לבהמה "New Year for (Domesticated) Animals") is one of the four New Year's day festivals (Rashei Hashanah) in the Jewish calendar as indicated in the Mishnah. During the time of the Temple, this was a day on which shepherds determined which of their mature animals were to be tithed. According to the first opinion, the day coincides with Rosh Chodesh Elul, the New Moon for the month of Elul, exactly one month before Rosh Hashanah. However, the halacha follows the second opinion that the day coincides with Rosh Hashanah itself.[1]
Beginning in 2009, the festival began to be revived by religious Jewish animal protection advocates and environmental educators to raise awareness of the mitzvah of tza'ar ba'alei chayim, the source texts informing Jewish ethical relationships with domesticated animals, and the lived experience of animals impacted by human needs, especially in the industrial meat industry.[2][3][4]
- ^ Rambam Hilkhot Maasar Beheimah 7:6.
- ^ Schwartz, Richard H. (8 August 2012). "New Year for Animals: The Time Has Come". Tikkun. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ Varady, Aharon (5 August 2013). "Rosh Chodesh Elul: Jewish New Year for Animals". Hazon. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ W-M, Jake (24 August 2012). "Spotlight on a Siach Partnership: Rosh Hashanah LaBehema". Siach: An Environment and Social Justice Conversation. Siach. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
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