This year is one the rare cases that some boys Bar Mitzvah, and requirement to put on Tefillin, will take place before what they consider to be their Hebrew Birthday.
Boys that were born on the First of Kislev thirteen years ago, (December 2, 2005) will not become Bar Mitzvah this year on the First of Kislev, but rather one day before, the first day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, the thirtieth day of Cheshvan, (Thursday, November 8, 2018). (Mishna Berura Siman 55 S’if Katan 45).
The reason for that is, that this year, as opposed to thirteen years ago, since there is a thirtieth day to the month of Cheshvan, it has the halachic status of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, and for all practical purposes, the boy is Bar Mitzvah on the thirtieth day of Cheshvan and is required to put on Tefillin.
The issue is further discussed in Shaarei Teshuva ibid. and one should consult with their local Rov.
People who are not aware of this may inadvertently miss their first day of Teffilin and other Mitzvos.
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16 Responses
So that would mean that this year it is not possible for someone to be bar mitzvah on 1 kislev.
Either they were born on the 1st and are bar mitzvah on the 30th. Or born on the 2nd and bar mitzvah on the 2nd.
Thanks for the heads up.
But why is this different from any month whose number of days varies?
1. Who puts on tfillin only starting exactly on the day he becomes bar mitzvah?
2. The mishnah brurah’s reasoning lich’orah seems to be soser the mogen avrohom’s reasoning in the opposite case. By nolad in a year with 2 day rosh chodesh and bar mitzvah in a year with 1 day, MA says you become bar mitzvah on 1 kislev since you need to pass a full 29 day month. So by nolad in a year with 1 day and bar mitzvah in a year with 2 days, you should become a bar mitzvah on 1 kislev also, since you should need to pass a 30 day month. No?
Is this something that rarely happens? Why is there a 30th day added? Please educated me on this
@BaalHabooze and @morahmom Cheshvan only has 29 days most years. I don’t remember the exact number, but I think it’s 30 days 7 years out of 19
” . . . But why is this different from any month whose number of days varies?”
There are ONLY two months whose lengths vary; Kislev and Teves.
Nisan, always 30 days (Iyar 2 days R”Ch)
Iyar, always 29 days (Sivan 1 day R”Ch)
Sivan, always 30 days (Tamuz 2 days R”Ch)
Tamuz, always 29 days (Av 1 day R”Ch)
Av, always 30 days (Elul 2 days R”Ch)
Elul, always 29 days (Tishrei 1 day R”Ch Rosh HaShannah is 1st and 2nd of Tishrei)
Tishrei, always 30 days (Cheshvan 2 days R”Ch)
Cheshvan, always 29 days (Kislev 2 days R”Ch)
Kislev / Teves are sometimes both 29 days, sometimes both 30 days, and sometimes one is 29 and one is 30
Shevat is always 30 days (Adar 2 days R”Ch)
Adar (when there is one) always 29 days (Nisan 1 day R”Ch)
Adar Aleph, always 30 days (Adar Sheini 2 days R”Ch)
Adar Sheini, always 29 days (Nisan 1 day R”Ch)
“1. Who puts on tfillin only starting exactly on the day he becomes bar mitzvah?”
That is actually the halachah as brought in the Rama (Rav Moshe ben Yisroel (Isseral’s) and is still followed by many communities until today.
Other interesting minhagim:
1) 30 days before UNLESS it comes out on Shabbos or Yom Tov. Then the day of.
2) The Rosh Chodesh before.
3) Three months before.
4) One or two months before.
5) One month before (b’tzinah) and b’rabbim only on day of becoming a bar mitzvah.
Kudos for bringing this to the public’s attention. I’m sure Sofrim will also want to spread the word. While on topic, there is another misconception out there that boys turn Bar Mitzvah on their 13th birthday + 1 day. In truth they turn Bar Mitzvah on their actual birthday (the evening of). Although there is mention of 13+1day in Halacha, all it means is that you have to wait for the beginning of the day after the completion of the 13th year – a.k.a “the 13th birthday”! (ibid. S’if Katan 42)
On ones 13th birthday on IS 13 years and 1 day. A person completes 13 years the day BEFORE the birthday. Once it is the next calendar day (i.e. the birthday) the person is 13 years and 1 day.
Tefilin starting on day of Bar Mitzvah is the minhag of the majority.
@Joseph – “Tefilin starting on day of Bar Mitzvah is the minhag of the majority.”
As noted above, it is the minhag of the ReM”A, but the Mishnah Berurah indicated it is not the prevalent minhag.
Two minhagim not mentioned above are (1) from the time a bochur begins to learn “Talmud” and knows to “watch his body” and (2) from the age of 10.
@Shuali,
The two months which vary are Cheshvan and Kislev.
@YSP – You are correct. My mistake. If Shevat is ALWAYS one day R”Ch (which it is and as I wrote – see Maharil), then Teves is ALWAYS 29 days. Ergo, Cheshvan and Kislev are the ones that vary.
Corrected Post:
There are ONLY two months whose lengths vary; CHESHVAN and KISLEV.
Nisan, always 30 days
Iyar, always 29 days
Sivan, always 30 days
Tamuz, always 29 days
Av, always 30 days
Elul, always 29 days
Tishrei, always 30 days
Cheshvan, varies
Kislev, varies
Teves, always 29 days
Shevat is always 30 days
Adar (when there is one) always 29 days
Adar Aleph, always 30 days
Adar Sheini, always 29 days
Or put another way:
One day R”Ch – Nissan, Sivan, Av, Tishrei, Shevat.
Two day R”Ch – Iyar, Tamuz, Elul, Cheshvan, Adar (all)
One OR Two days R”Ch – KISLEV and TEVES
” (1) from the time a bochur begins to learn “Talmud” and knows to “watch his body” and (2) from the age of 10.”
I’ve never heard of anyone starting that early. Starting a few months early is pretty normal though.
Would those who start 1 month or 3 months prior also have a shailah this year? I’m not sure how exact they are about the date.
See Piskei Teshuvos, brings a suggestion to keep both days lchumram, i.e. mitzvos as a godol (e.g. tefillin) from 1st day R Ch, but don’t count towards minyan till 2nd day
Rebbe Yid,
ME! MY FAMILY!
In fact my bar mitzvah was Erev Yom Tov. I put on tfilin the first time on Erev Yom Tov and the next time was more than a week later.