Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” (Exodus 12:2) – one who sees the moon, how should he recite the blessing? At the time when Israel was sanctifying the month,59I.e., rather than automatically following astronomical calculations as is done today, each month witnesses would come to the High Court and testify that they had seen the new moon. Based on this testimony, the court would proclaim which day was sanctified as the first of the month. some Rabbis would say: Blessed…who renews months, some of them would say: Who consecrates months, and some of them would say: Who consecrates Israel, since if Israel does not consecrate it, the consecration is nothing.
Do not wonder about this, as the Holy One blessed be He consecrated Israel, as it is written: “You shall be holy to Me, as I, the Lord, am holy” (Leviticus 20:26); since they are consecrated to Heaven, what they consecrate is consecrated. If you would like to know, go and learn from the service vessels. Moses consecrated the Tabernacle and all its vessels. Who consecrated them [vessels introduced afterwards]?
Could Moses come and consecrate them? Rather, what would they do? The priest would receive a sacred item in it and the vessel would be consecrated, just as Moses consecrated them with blood for the altar, libation wine, or a meal offering. He would pour it into a non-sacred vessel and the non-sacred vessel would be consecrated.
If a non-sacred vessel is consecrated when filled with sacred items, all the more so that Israel, who are sacred, may consecrate the month. The Holy One blessed be He said: I am sacred; do I sanctify for Myself? Rather, I sanctify Israel and they sanctify Me. That is why it is written: “You shall be holy to Me” (Leviticus 20:26), “for I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Leviticus 21:8).
And so did David say: “You, enthroned upon the praises of Israel, are holy (Psalms 22:4). When did Israel begin to consecrate the month? It was in Egypt. That is what is written: “This month shall be for you.”