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 & best opportunity for Kidush L'vana this month (according to Minhag Yerushalayim - 3 days after the Molad) is Thursday night, January 17. Many people wait for this Motza'ei Shabbat, Parshat BO, January 19th. Those who are MAKPID (insistent) about waiting for 7 full days from the Molad before saying K.L. will have their first opportunity (weather permitting) on Monday night, January 21. For everyone, the last opportunity for K.L. this month is Monday, January 28 until 7:00pm. 

Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat has (at least) two claims to fame. It was Beit Shammai's choice for Rosh HaShana for Trees. We accepted Beit Hillel's opinion and consider the 15th of the month (TU BiShvat) for that role, but Beit Shammai's opinion is mentioned in the Mishna, so we will mention it here. 

The opening p'sukim of the book of D'varim (a.k.a. Mishneh Torah) tell us that with the People of Israel on the threshold of Eretz Yisrael, Moshe Rabeinu spent his last 37 days of his life (in this world) reviewing all of Torah with the People. This review began on Rosh Chodesh Shvat.