This Shabbat we bench Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the first of the months of our year. And the setting is perfect for the occasion: Shabbat Parshat HaChodesh, where it all began... in a matter of speaking. ROSH CHODESH NISSAN YIHYEH B'YOM
CHAMISHII HABA ALEINU V'AL KOL YISRA'EL L'TOVA: The Molad of Nissan will occur on Wed.April 2, 12:42am, Israel Summer time. This time is adjustable for time zones, e.g. in NY the Molad is TUE 4:42pm EST. But the traditional way we announce the Molad, in Jerusalem Solar Time, remains the same all over the world, and it NOT adjusted for time zones or Summer time. More on Kiddush HaChodesh... One of the unique aspects of the eye-witness testi- mony to the first visibility of the lunar crescent (based on which Sanhedrin would sanctify Rosh Chodesh) is that the judges on the panel to question witnesses were required to know and calculate if the moon would be visible, its size, position in the sky, and several other factors. The judges had to know the exact truth of the situation; the witnesses were often uncertain about what they had actually seen. They offered their testimony, and the judges would know if the testimony was true or not. All other testimony is the opposite. The judges of a Beit Din do NOT know the truth of the matter. Witnesses are called to tell the court what happened. If accepted, it is the witnesses who tell the judges something unknown to them (the judges). If the judges knew in advance all of the details of the moon, then why the need for fallible eye witnesses? Because G-d wants our active participation in the process of setting up the Jewish Calendar. [The
Parshat Sh'mini Homepage]
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