 Parshat Emor 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 Iyar as announced, was FRI (April 16th), 4m and 4p after midnight. That corresponded to 12:43am Israel Summer Time. That is the time we use to calculate the last opportunity for Kiddush L'vana. From one Molad to the next (on average) is 29 days, 12h 44m 1p. Midway between two Moladot is the moment called NIGUD, opposition. When the Sun and Moon are opposite each other, with the Earth between them. Full Moon occurs at this oppositioneach month. And this is the latest time to say K.L. The actual full moon can be hours before or after the NIGUD as calculated by the average Molad, but the deadline for K.L. depends on the average figures, not on the actual full moon. NIGUD occurs 14d 18h 22m after the Molad. For this month (Iyar 5759), that will be 7:05pm on Friday evening, April 30th. By the time the moon will be visible on Friday night, it will already be past the Nigud. Therefore, the last opportunity for Kiddush L'vana this month will be (is or was, depending upon when you are readingthis) Thursday night, April 29th, all night, incl. the wee hours of Fri. April 30th. [The Emor Homepage] |