Knitting on Rosh Chodesh

One may work on Rosh Ḥodesh. Ideally, though, one should not do so, as is the law on Ḥol Ha-mo’ed. .. Rosh Ḥodesh should rightfully be on par with Ḥol Ha-mo’ed. However, since the twelve tribes of Israel sinned in the episode of the Golden Calf, they correspondingly lost the special quality of the twelve Rashei Ḥodashim of the year. Women, however, did not participate in the sin of the Golden Calf, refusing to give their jewelry in order to help create it. Therefore, God rewarded them in this world and in the World to Come. In this world, God instituted that “they observe Rosh Ḥodesh more than the men do.” God also promised that in the World to Come, they will regain their youthfulness, like the moon that renews itself every month, as it says, “He satisfies you with good things in the prime of life, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Tehilim 103:5;Pirkei De-Rabbi Eliezer 45). As a result, women absorb more of the sanctity of Rosh Ḥodesh, and they have thus adopted the custom to refrain from working then.

The women heard (this), but they were unwilling to give their earrings to their husbands; but they said to them: Ye desire to make a graven image and a molten image without any power in it to deliver. The Holy One, blessed be He, gave the women their reward in this world and in the world to come. What reward did He give them in this world? That they should observe the New Moons more stringently than the men, and what reward will He give them in the world to come? They are destined to be renewed like the New Moons, as it is said, "Who satisfieth thy years with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle" (Ps. 103:5).

Therefore, every woman should refrain from doing certain types of work on Rosh Ḥodesh – knitting, for example – in order to differentiate between Rosh Ḥodesh and ordinary days. It goes without saying that she should not plan to do any big jobs on Rosh Ḥodesh.

Some women go above and beyond and refrain from doing any type of work that is forbidden on Ḥol Ha-mo’ed. This includes sewing, knitting, and fixing things in the house. Cooking, baking, and ironing, however, are permitted, as they are permitted on Ḥol Ha-mo’ed as well. Washing clothing in a washing machine is also permitted, because it entails almost no effort. If the clothes are needed for Rosh Ḥodesh itself, one may wash them even by hand. An employed woman may work on Rosh Ḥodesh, even if she generally follows the practice of those who go above and beyond, because if she misses work regularly on Rosh Ḥodesh, she might lose her job. And even if there is no concern that she will be fired, she may go to work if she needs the money or if her absence will cause her employer to lose money.