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... 

First opportunity for Kiddush L'vana for those who follow the 3-days-after-the-Molad opinion (a.k.a. Minhag Yerushalayim, a.k.a. the opinion of the GR"A) was Thursday night, April 19th. Best opportunity for those who say K.L. only on Motza'ei Shabbat, or those who consider it preferable to say K.L. on Motza"Sh, is this Motza'eiShabbat Parshat Tazri'a-M'tzora, April 28.

IYAR has 29 days (in our fixed calendar). It is one of the few months with another name in the Tanach - ZIV. It is completely within the Omer period (16th thru 44th). Lots of special dates in the month. Second day Rosh Chodesh Iyar on the 1st. Yom HaZikaron on the 4th (or 3rd or 2nd), Yom HaAtzma'ut on the 5th (or 4th or 3rd), BaHa"B on 7-10-14 or 8-11-15, or 10-13-17 (postponed from 3-6-10, or not) or 12-15-19 (postponed from 5-8-12, or not). Pesach Sheni on the 14th, Lag BaOmer on the 18th, Yom Yerushalayim on the 28th, Yom Kippur Katan on the 29th (or 27th).