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... The actual (astronomical) molad of Tammuz is THU 11:27pm. This means that by twilight of Leil Shabbat the new moon will be over 20 hours old, and it MIGHT be visible under perfect visibility conditions. And that means, if we had a Sanhedrin now, and if reliable witnesses would testify before it on Friday night or Shabbat day, that Shabbat would be Rosh Chodesh Tammuz. And if not, then Sunday would be Rosh Chodesh. Which can sort of explain (but not really) why without a Sanhedrin, we have Rosh Chodesh on both Shabbat and Sunday. Astronomical molad is not relevant with- out a Sanhedrin; average molad is. And this month they are very close to each other. What this translates to in practice, is that Sunday night is the first op for Kiddush L'vana according to Minhag Yer. [The
Parshat Korach Homepage]
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