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... 

HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem...

Rosh Chodesh Kislev will be TUESDAY
The Molad will be on SUN (Nov.26) 14h 45m 6p 
In Rambam notation, that's Rishon • 20h • 816 chalakim 
In Israel Standard Time (a.k.a. here as Winter Clock) SUN Nov.26, 2:24pm
The actual, astronomical Molad will be SUN Nov.26, 1:13am 
The first Molad is the way we announce it in Shul.
Notice that this month - it varies - the actual Molad is more than 13 hours earlier than the announced Molad.
The Moon will not be visible on the night following the Molad, Sun. night, but rather Mon. night. Tuesday would be - and is - Rosh Chodesh.
The Kislev Kiddush L'vana Story
K.L. (almost) always ignores the actual molad and uses the average figures, as announced in shul. With the Molad on Sunday afternoon, 3-day-Minhag-Yerushalayim-GR"A people will say K.L. on Wednesday night, weather permitting. Motza"Sh people will have their best shot on Motza'ei Shabbat To'l'dot. But, that's still too early for 7-day people. Their first shot will be next Sunday night, December 3rd. Everybody's last chance is Sunday night, December 10th.

[The Chayei Sara Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage] [How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center] [About TORAH tidbits]