Parashat Balak 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... 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 last opportunity for Kiddush L'vana in any given month is 14 days, 18 hours and 22 minutes after the Molad (this is halfway between one molad and the next). With the Molad of Tammuz having occurred Motza'ei Shabbat (July 1st), 23h, 5m, 1p, the NIGUD (opposition - when the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth) is this Sunday (July 16th) at 4:06pm. Since that is before nightfall, the last opportunity for K.L. this month is Motza'ei Shabbat Balak (July 15th), all night. The Molad and Nigud that we use for Rosh Chodesh announcing and for the deadline for K.L. is based on average calculations. The actual Molad and Nigud can vary many hours from the average times. This month, the times are close. Full Moon (opposition, the real NIGUD) is Sunday at 4:56pm Israel Summer Time. At NIGUD, opposition, full Moon (and only then) it can happen that the Moon passes through the shadow of the Earth and a lunar eclipse occurs. This is the case this month. Alas, none of the eclipse will be visible from Israel.
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