 Parshat T'ruma 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 Adar was Monday night, FEB 15, 10:15. Three days (72 hours) later is the first and best opportunity for Kiddush L'vana (according to Minhag Yerushalayim). By 10:15pm on Thursday night, the Moon will have set. Since we do not say K.L. on Friday night (unless it is the last opportunity), the first night for K.L.this month will be on Motza'ei Shabbat. Those who follow the opinion that K.L. can be said only 7 days after the Molad will be able to say it next Tuesday night. On another sky note... If you've looked into the western sky after sunset lately, you might have noticed two prominent evening "stars". The one closer to the horizon and brighter is Venus and the other one is Jupiter. Over the next few days, they will get closer and closer together, being closest on February 23rd. Venus and Jupiter are the two brightest objects in the sky after the Sun and Moon. With the two of them so close together (from our perspective, that is) it will be an impressive sight. That's western sky soon after sunset. Noticing them each day will allow you to note their progress across the sky. Venus and Jupiter are planets;they appear to the naked eye as star-like points of light. With binoculars or telescope they can be seen as disks. Stars will remain points of light even with telescope. [The T'ruma Homepage] |