Musar for Rosh Hashanah 1:4

עַל שְׁנֵי חֳדָשִׁים מְחַלְּלִין אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, עַל נִיסָן וְעַל תִּשְׁרֵי, שֶׁבָּהֶן הַשְּׁלוּחִין יוֹצְאִין לְסוּרְיָא, וּבָהֶן מְתַקְּנִין אֶת הַמּוֹעֲדוֹת. וּכְשֶׁהָיָה בֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קַיָּם, מְחַלְּלִין אַף עַל כֻּלָּן מִפְּנֵי תַקָּנַת הַקָּרְבָּן:

For (the sanctification of) two months, Nissan and Tishrei, [witnesses who saw the new moon] desecrate the Sabbath [in order to go to apprise beth-din thereof]. For, for them (Nissan and Tishrei) messengers go out to Suria [to apprise the exile of the day of their designation, for which reason they are of special significance. By Torah law, the Sabbath may be desecrated for (the sanctification of) all (of the months); but the rabbis forbade it, for the institution of the festivals (in their proper times) is not dependent upon them. But these two were left in the province of Torah law, for all of the festivals are dependent upon them.] And when the Temple stood, they desecrated the Sabbath for all of them for the sake of the [Rosh Chodesh] offering, [that it be sacrificed in its proper time.]

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