WORD OF THE MONTH

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... 

Last opportunity for Kiddush L'vana for this month, Sh'vat 5761, was Wednesday night, February 7th. This is so because the NIGUD (opposition, full Moon) is/was Thursday morning, 10:14. This time, based on average, is fairly close to the astronomical (actual) full Moon of 9:12am.

On a different note, CHATZOT, halachic noon, is at its latest time, 11:53:20, on Feb. 10-11. After that date, Chatzot will get progressively earlier until May 13-15 when it will be 11:35:24. Then it will get later and later until July 25-26 when it will be 11:45:36. From it will get earlier and earlier until November 3rd when it will reach its earliest time of 11:22:39. And from then, later and later until February 10, '02 when it reaches its latest time of 11:53:20. Notice the two different highs & lows in the year's cycle.