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... 

This month's Molad occurred at 2:09am early Thursday morning. Three full days from then is early Sunday morning. Therefore, the first opportunity for Kiddush L'vana this month (according to the 3-day minhag) is Sunday night, March 17th, Leil 5 Nissan. Those who wait for 7 days after the Molad will have their first opportunity on Thursday night, March 21st, Leil 9 Nissan. Those who wait for Motza'ei Shabbat will have their opportunity on Motza"Sh HaGadol, March 23rd, Leil 11 Nissan. Last opportunity is Thursday night, March 28th, Motza'ei the first day of Pesach, until 8:30pm. (That happens to be the night we will "spring ahead" to summer time.) 

AD/Raanana sent in a piece on the Jewish Calendar by Uri Dasberg, which mentions that Rav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook zt"l used to say that the Israeli Postal Authority daily sanctifies G-d's name by using the Jewish date, which proclaims G-d's creation via the designation of the Jewish year, as counted from Creation. Radio and newspapers, banks and many other institutions in Israel also use the Jewish dates. Shouldn't we also honor G-d in this way, and use the Jewish Calendar more and more?