אות-יט

On the eve of Rosh Chodesh [the New Month] the moon is at its utmost diminishment, and specifically then it immediately begins to fill on Rosh Chodesh. This is a hint about the community of Israel: "they are destined to be renewed like it" — as we say in the blessing of Sanctification of the Moon. For all the days of the world we are engaged in repairing the blemish of the moon, and each time we repair it little by little — until in the future its blemish will be completely filled and there will be no diminishment in it. And even though in material terms we do not see any tikun in the moon — for each month it returns and diminishes as before — even so, we believe that our toil is not in vain, G-d forbid. And certainly it is being repaired spiritually each time, until in the future we will see this eye to eye — that its blemish was filled through the holiness of the Tzadikim's service and all of Israel. And likewise for every person of Israel — who has ascents and descents all his days without measure — sometimes it seems to him he has accomplished nothing since each time he returns and diminishes or is blemished, G-d forbid. Even so, no toil is in vain. The essential thing is wholesomeness and simplicity — to strengthen oneself in the ways of the simplicity and wholesomeness of the true Tzadikim, through which each person always has hope. (Halachos of Rosh Chodesh, Halacha 7, Ois 17)