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Customarily, the congregation rises, and the Chazzan holds the Torah in his arms while leading this solemn prayer.
This prayer is first mentioned in the writings of the medieval sages. The original intent of the prayer was to make the public aware of when Rosh Chodesh would be. Adding this extra prayer certainly accomplishes that objective.
In many congregations the Birkat Hachodesh is preceded by a short prayer (Yehi ratzon) requesting divine beneficence for the coming month. This prayer is recited first by the congregation, and is then repeated aloud by the chazzan.
We eagerly await the moment when the sanctification of each new month will be done by the reinstated Sanhedrin
The actual prayer consists of three parts.
The first part, (Mi She'asah,) is a short request for the Redemption. We eagerly await the moment when the sanctification of each new month will be done by the reinstated Sanhedrin.3 This part, too, is recited first by the congregation, and then the chazzan.
Immediately after concluding the first part, the chazzan declares "Rosh Chodesh (name of the month) will be on (the day or days of the week on which it falls) which will come to us for good!"
The congregation repeats this declaration and then proceeds to recite the third part -- a request for life, peace, gladness, joy, deliverance and consolation in the upcoming month. The chazzan repeats this prayer with the congregation interjecting to respond "Amen" to each individual request.
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