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... 

MI'SHE'NICH'NAS AV M'MA'ATIN B'SIMCHA •When the month of Av enters, we diminish our joy.

There are at least two Shabbat-Rosh Chodeshes every year, sometimes three. (Average: 2.42 per yr.) Rosh Chodesh Av is Shabbat 11.5% of the time. More than twice as often each, it is Monday (31.9%), Wednesday (28.6%), or Friday (28.0%).

Shabbat - one-day Rosh Chodesh is on the rare side. Either one a year or none. (Average: .7 per yr.) In addition to Av's 11.5% of the years, Rosh Chodesh Shvat is Shabbat 30% of the time and Rosh Chodesh Nissan is Shabbat 28.0% of the time. The single-day Rosh Chodesh of other months do not fall on Shabbat.

First opportunity for Kiddush L'vana (GR"A) is Monday night, July 23rd after 9:17pm. Many people wait until after Tish'a b'Av to say K.L (pref. after breaking the fast). Some say it after the 10th of Av.