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... With the actual (astronomical) Molad on Friday night, the moon will first be visible on Motza'ei Shabbat. This means that if we had a Sanhedrin today, it is most likely that Rosh Chodesh Tevet would be Sunday — which it is! The announced Molad is around noon on Shabbat. Therefore, Tuesday night, December 18th is the first opportunity this month for Kiddush L'vana. For those who wait until 7 full days after the Molad, and for those who say K.L. only on Motza'ei Shabbat, the best opportunity will be next Motza"Sh, Parshat Vayigash, December 22. As mentioned elsewhere in this issue, omitting Yaaleh V'Yavo from Birchat HaMazon does not invalidate it. Davening (the Amida) is different. If you skips Yaaleh V'Yavo from the Amida of Shacharit or Mincha, you must repeat the Amida. Omitting at Maariv does not require repeating, because Sanhedrin never proclaimed Rosh Chodesh at night. Because Chanuka is a rabbinic holiday, omitting Al HaNisim from the Amida does NOT invalidate it. If one remembers the omission before "stepping back", Al HaNisim can be said before Y'H'YU L'RATZON. [The Miketz Homepage]
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