Parashat B'reishit 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... ROSH CHODESH MARCHESHVAN WILL BE TOMORROW, YOM RISHON (SUNDAY) AND ON YOM SHEINI (MONDAY)
The Molad was (by the time this announcement is made as part of Rosh Chodesh benching, the Molad will have occurred) this morning, Shabbat Kodesh, 1 minute and 5 chalakim (there are 18 parts to a minute) after 2:00
The Molad of Cheshvan is SHA Oct.28, 1:40am, Israel Standard time. Since Rosh HaShana effectively eclipses Tishrei's Rosh Chodesh, it is Cheshvan that is "really" the first month of the year. Shabbat B'reishit is the ONLY Shabbat that is ALWAYS Shabbat M'vorchim. FYI - Although the only Molad never announced is that of Tishrei, it is specifically Tishrei's Molad that fixes Rosh HaShana and the "shape of the year" in our fixed calendar. As follows... 5761 - Tishrei's Molad was THU Sep 28, 17m 4p after 1 in the afternoon. By the rule of Molad Zaken (a Molad after noon), Rosh HaShana is pushed to the next day (FRI). By the rule of LO AD"U ROSH, it is pushed again to Shabbat. Molad of Tishrei 5762 will be MON (Sep17) 5m and 16 p after 10 at night. This is a Molad Zaken, so Rosh HaShana is pushed to the next day. Rosh HaShana 5762 will be IY"H on TUE/WED, Sep 18 & 19. Picture this... Time of the Sanhedrin (past AND future). Astronomers have reported to the Sanhedrin Committee for Kiddush HaChodesh that the Lunar Crescent MIGHT be visible on the evening following the 29th of the month. The Committee waits for witnesses to testify that they saw the L'VANA B'CHIDUSHA, the Moon's "rebirth". During the night, witnesses do indeed arrive and give their testimony. And the judges question them and find their testimony to be acceptable. The word spreads around Yerushalayim and by 5:00am, the courtyard of the headquarters of Sanhedrin is packed with thousands of Jews who want to be present when the Head of the Sanhedrin proclaims the day HOLY. (News crews and TV cameras are in place to broadcast the proceedings to Jewish communities all over Israel and the world.) Sunrise is not until 6:13am, but the winter chill and gloom has not diminished the crowd's enthusiasm one bit. Finally, the NASI's proclamation of M'KUDASH is answered by a thunderous M'KUDASH, M'KUDASH, and another Jewish month has begun. In commemoration of the above - and in hopeful anticipation of its restoration, our Sages instituted the BLESSING OF THE MONTH which includes the announcements of the Molad and the days of Rosh Chodesh. This, in the presence of the multitudes who fill our shuls on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh. The GABBAI (or someone else) announces the Molad after Y'HI RATZON and before MI SHE'ASA NISIM... Our Tradition is to use JERUSALEM SOLAR TIME which does not get adjusted for location or for daylight savings time. The table on the other side of this page gives suggested wording for the Molad announcement (which can be used by all Jewish communities. The "regular" notation and that of the Rambam do not change. Clock time for the average and astronomical Molads are adjusted for Summer Time, and should be adjusted for location. For example, the Molad of Nisan will be on Friday, 4 hours, 57 minutes and 9 chalakim. For announcement purposes, this is so all over the world. The corresponding clock time, however, is 4:37am on Friday morning for Israel, 9:37pm on Thursday night for Fort Lee, New Jersey, etc. Similarly, the actual Molad (Molad Amiti, as opposed to Molad Emtza'i) of Nisan will be 10:22am on Friday morning in Israel, and 3:22am on Friday for Fort Lee. [The B'reishit Homepage]
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