Parashat Tazria Word of the MonthA 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...S'U MAROM EINEICHEM... "Lift your eyes heavenward and see Who created these..." (Yeshayahu 40:26) Once a month, we look to the sky, check for the Moon, make sure it is not even partially obscured by clouds, and say Kiddush Levana. This will be done by many people this Motza'ei Shabbat (others will wait for 7 days after the Molad - next Tuesday night, and others will say it on Motza'ei Shabbat HaGadol). Aside from this once a month mitzva, one can and should look at the sky often and be filled with a sense of wonder at G-d's creation. This might not be a specific mitzva, but it is definitely mitzva-ish in that it can bring a person to a greater appreciation and feeling towards G-d. A very special opportunity of this type presents itself on Thursday evening, April 6th. A short time after sunset, low in the western sky (towards the south), we will be treated to a pretty sight - a slender crescent moon, bright "evening star" Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars close enough to each other to be framed by a circle of thumb and pointer held at arm's length.
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