Jewish Time

And God said to Moses and Aaron in the Land of Egypt, saying: This month shall be for you the beginning of months, it shall be the first month of the year.                Exodus 12:1-2

It is certainly interesting that we celebrate Rosh haShana (literally "the head of the year") in Tishrei, which according to our verses is the seventh month of the year.

My father explained that time has meaning only to a free person. Time has value only for one who is free to utilize his time for his own benefit.  Therefore, Nissan, the month of redemption from Egypt must be the start of the Jewish year.

Judaism recognizes God's universal relationship with all of mankind, as well as His special relationship with the People of Israel. God as Creator has the same relationship with gentiles as He does with Jews. As Rabbi Yehuda haLevi noted in the Kuzari, the special relationship with the Jews derives from God's redemption of the Children of Israel from Egypt.

Thus, Rosh haShana occurs during the month of creation (specifically on the day of man's creation, according to the Sages), while the Jewish calendar begins with the month of redemption. This is perhaps the intention of the Midrash, which tells us that God said to the Israelites "since I have performed miracles for you in this month, you make it the beginning of months."