Parashat Bo 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... First opportunity for Kiddush L'vana (for 3-days after the Molad people) was this past Monday night. 7-day opinion would allow K.L. on Thursday night, January 13th (after 6:20pm). Motza'ei Shabbat people will have their best shot on this Motza'ei Shabbat Parshat BO. This month's "Moon situation" serves as a good example for two points. The actual Molad of Shvat was last Thursday evening at about 8:15pm. Astronomical and mathematical calculations indicated that the Moon would not have been visible on Leil Shabbat (Friday evening). In fact, trained observers did not contradict that indication; they failed to see the Moon on Friday evening. What this means is if we had a Sanhedrin today, then last Shabbat would have been the 30th of Tevet (a date that has not existed for many centuries) and Sunday would have been Rosh Chodesh (whether or not the Moon was visible - which it happens to have been). Does this mean that we were off a day by having Rosh Chodesh on Shabbat? No it doesn't mean that. Without a Sanhedrin, Rosh Chodesh was exactly on the day it was supposed to be - Shabbat. probably continued (actually, it wasn't continued in the hard copy. Will I get to continue it for the web, email, and Palm versions? We'll see.) [The Bo Homepage]
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