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...

Without a Sanhedrin, our calendar is fixed by a method of calculation that does not involve a "human factor" in the process. That's not a perfectly accurate statement, because of some interesting opinions that our months are not pre-sanctified by a Sanhedrin of a long time ago (as is the prevalent opinion), but rather by the acts of the Jewish People (specifically in Eretz Yisrael) at the beginning of each month. Be that as it may, WITH a Sanhedrin, there is a significant human factor in the form of witnesses to the first visibility of the lunar crescent as well as certain discretionary powers of the Sanhedrin committee in charge of Kidush HaChodesh. The judges were required to make the astronomical calculations necessary to determine on which night the moon would first be visible. Although the testimony of witnesses was highly preferable as the basis on which the leader of Sanhedrin would proclaim Rosh Chodesh, the Sanhedrin had the power - if their calculations showed that the moon could have been seen - to declare Rosh Chodesh without witnesses. This, only when there was a "great need" to do so. If (when) this power was exercised, it would still be considered inferior to "Kidush" based on eye-witnesses. (more on this from time to time)