A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem....

The Molad of Menachem Av occurred on Friday morning, July 24th, 5h 27m13p (which is 6:07am Israel Summer Time). (The actual Molad is 3:43pm on Thursday, but it is not used for Kiddush L'vana timing.)

Many have the custom of waiting until after Tish'a b'Av for Kiddush L'vana. If so, then K.L. should preferably be said after breaking the fast and after putting on shoes (and this year also after Havdala). If this will mean missing a minyan for K.L. then one should say K.L. even before eating. Even if you are very hungry, it's worth the extra few minutes to perform this joyous mitzva of honoring the Sh'china.

Minhag Yerushalayim is not to wait for K.L. but to say it after 72 hours following the Molad, as is done every month. First K.L. in that case was Monday night, July 27th.