 Parshat Va-yak-al/P'kudei 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... Parshat HaChodesh is the Shabbat of (28%), or the Shabbat before (72%) Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Last year HaChodesh was a 3-Kugel Shabbat. The next time will be 5772. In other words, 72% of the time (this year included), we bench Rosh Chodesh on Shabbat HaChodesh. Rosh Chodesh Nissan is always one day, and will be on Thursday.Since the first day of Pesach is the 15th of the month, Rosh Chodesh Nissan and Pesach fall on the same day of the week. (Wednesday night Seder this year). The Molad of Nissan will be on WED (Mar 17) 11h 20m 3p (which is 10:59am, Israel time). The actual Molad will be Wednesday night at 20:47. The Moon might be visible on Thursday evening, from about 6:10pm for about 10 minutes. That is not an ideal situation for seeing it. Look for it above the western horizon a bit to theleft of where the sun had set, below and to the right of Venus, the bright evening star. If you are interested in recording your results and submitting them to the Israeli New Moon Society, contact Dr. Roy Hoffman ASAP at (02) 5353551 or 050-930358. [The Va-yak-al/P'kudei
Homepage] |