1. BIRKAS HA-CHODESH

On the Shabbos before Rosh Chodesh (with the exception of Tishray which is Rosh HaShana) Birkas haChodesh is recited before Musaf, when we announce the day(s) on which Rosh Chodesh will be observed, and beseech G-d that the coming month be replete with His blessings for us and all of Israel.

This Shabbos, known as Shabbos M'vorchim, requires changes in the T'fillah:

a. Kayl Malay Rachamim is deleted. If Sunday is not Rosh Chodesh then it may be recited later that day at Mincha - time. (This does not apply for Shabbos M'vorchim Iyar sinceKayl Malay Rachamim is not recited at any time during Nisan.)

b. Av HaRachamim is not recited with the exception of Shabbos M'vorchim Iyar, Sivan, and according to some, also Av.

c. When Shabbos M'vorchim is also Erev Rosh Chodesh, in addition to the above two deletions:

- a special Haphtorah is recited instead of the regularly scheduled one.

- at Mincha, Tzidkascha Tzedek and Kayl Malay Rachamim are not recited.

2. Erev Rosh Chodesh

On Erev (the day before) Rosh Chodesh the following changes are made in the order of T'fillah:

a. At Mincha - time, Tachanun is not said.

b. If Erev Rosh Chodesh is a Shabbos, at Mincha - time, Kayl Malay Rachamim and Tzidkascha Tzedek are not recited.

3. Ma'ariv on Rosh Chodesh

[3.1] At a minyan, an announcement ought to be made before Ma'ariv concerning Ya'aleh v'Yavo being added in Sh'moneh Esray.

Though it is permitted to interrupt Ma'ariv (but not Shacharis) immediately before Sh'moneh Esray for this reminder, in the opinion of this writer, such a practice ought to be discouraged nonetheless. Experience has proven that such announcements are then improperly made by well - intentioned congregants in Shacharis when such an interruption is not halachically feasible who are not able to distinguish when such announcements are permitted and when they are not. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 236:2).

[3.2] When forgetting to say Ya'aleh v'Yavo, see further section 6.

4. SHACHARIS / MUSAF ON ROSH CHODESH

The following T'fillah - related matters should be noted.

[4.1] Insert Ya'aleh v'Yavo in Sh'moneh Esray. If forgotten, see further, section 6.

[4.2] Half Hallel is recited (except on Rosh Chodesh Teves which is always within Chanukah. This is followed by the Chazzan's Kaddish Tiskabel.

[4.3] Torah Reading for Rosh Chodesh (Bamidbar 28:1 - 15). Four people are called to the Torah.

[4.4] LaM'natza'ach (after the second Ashray) is not said.

[4.5] After Uva l'Tziyon, Tefillin are removed and Half Kaddish is said by the Chazzan. Tefillin should be put away properly before continuing with Musaf.

[4.6] Musaf Amidah for Rosh Chodesh. (In leap years, there is a parenthesis specially added. See sections 5.4 and 7.3)

[4.7] After Alaynu, Shir Shel Yom (daily psalm) is followed by Borchi Nafshi. There is no need to recite Kaddish between the Shir Shel Yom and Borchi Nafshi. (Borchi Nafshi is usually printed in a full siddur after Mincha for Shabbos.)

5. SHABBOS ROSH CHODESH

When Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos, the following T'fillah - related matters should be noted.

[5.1] Insert Ya'aleh v'Yavo as always. If forgotten, see further, section 6.

[5.2] Half Hallel is recited followed by the Chazzan's Kaddish Tiskabel.

[5.3] Two Torahs are read from with a special Haftorah for Rosh Chodesh being recited. (See further Section 7 for unusual exceptions.)

[5.4] The Musaf Amidah is changed in the middle to Ata Yatzarta rather than the usual Tikanta Shabbos. During leap years, there is a parenthesis specially added to bring to 13 the number of renewal and regeneration spoken of in Rosh Chodesh Amidah corresponding to the 13 months of our leap year. This added expression is only said in a leap year from Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan through Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet inclusive.

After the Shir Shel Yom, recite Borchi Nafshi. (usually printed in a full siddur after Mincha for Shabbos.) It is superfluous to separate the Shir Shel Yom and Borchi Nafshi with Kaddish.

6. FORGETTING TO SAY YA'ALEH V'YAVO

What follows only applies to Rosh Chodesh should one forget to insert Ya'aleh v'Yavo..

[6.1] During Ma'ariv

Should one forget entirely to recite Ya'aleh v'Yavo on either night of Rosh Chodesh, it is not necessary to repeat the Sh'moneh Esray. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 422:1)

[6.2] During Shacharis or Mincha

Should one momentarily forget to say Ya'aleh v'Yavo but is reminded before concluding the b'racha, not having said G-d's name in "Baruch Ata Hashem", return to say Ya'aleh v'Yavo and continue till the end of Sh'moneh Esray.

[6.3] During Birkat Hamazon

Should one forget Ya'aleh v'Yavo only after completing the Birkat HaMazon, it is proper to repeat the entire Birkat HaMazon.

There are some few Siddurim (Artscroll p. 196 as an example) that offer substitute passages for a forgotten Ya'aleh v'Yavo if one is reminded before beginning the very next b'racha. If such a text is available, use the substitute b'racha. If not - almost all Birchas HaMazon booklets ignore this substitute - then return to the beginning of the Birchas HaMazon (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 188:6).

[6.4] Concluding Note

Since these laws are complicated and vary so readily, it is best, even for one who is not a novice at these things, to follow the advice of such Torah masters as the Vilna Gaon who insisted that at all times one use a text to recite T'fillah and b'rachos especially when variations from the regular order of things must be made.

7. UNUSUAL ROSH CHODESH FEATURES.

[7.1] Av and Elul

When these occasions fall on a Shabbos, most congregations do not recite the Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Haftorah since there is a special 10 - week cycle of Haftorot before and after Tisha b'Av. Since customs vary, matters should be carefully checked by gabbaim and those who may be celebrating a Bar Mitzvah on such occasions. (Aruch HaShulchan Orach Chayim 425:5)

[7.2] Tishray

Since Rosh Chodesh Tishray is always Rosh HaShanah, there is no Birchas HaChodesh announcing the month of Tishray.

[7.3] Cheshvan

In leap years, we begin adding the parenthesized 13th expression of renewal (L'chaparas pasha) in Musaf for Rosh Chodesh. This addition is continued on every Rosh Chodesh through Adar Bet inclusive.

[7.4] Teves

Rosh Chodesh Teves always occurs within Chanukah. Complete Hallel is recited as on other days of Chanukah. Rosh Chodesh varies with some years being one day and others two days. Accordingly, Bar Mitzvas and Yahrzeit dates must be determined by calendar date rather than simply by Rosh Chodesh or the number of Chanukah candles.

[7.5] Teves, Adar, Nisan

In these months there are years when as many as three occasions can converge on the same day, all necessitating reading from an additional Torah.

Rosh Chodesh Teves may fall on a Shabbos and it is also Chanukah.

Rosh Chodesh Adar when falling on Shabbos is also the special Shabbos Sh'kalim

Rosh Chodesh Nisan when falling on Shabbos is also Shabbos HaChodesh, a special occasion in its own right.

In each case, modification of the Aliyos distribution and the choice of Haftorah must be skillfully executed by a gabbai who has reviewed the procedures in such cases. (Young Israel's Gabbai Manual details our practice step - by - step.)

[7.6] Two days of Rosh Chodesh

It is important to know exact days in relationship to setting the date of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or of Yahrzeit. When these occasions occur on Rosh Chodesh, one must know whether that month had two days of Rosh Chodesh and ultimately upon which day we are focusing.

As a guideline, please note that the following months always have two Rosh Chodesh days: Iyar, Tammuz, Elul, Cheshvan, Adar, Adar Bet. In some years Kislev and Teves have two days of Rosh Chodesh while in others they only have one day.