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... Last week's eclipse and the discussion of Sof Zman Kiddush L'vana, brought to the fore the differences between the time of Sanhedrin (past and future) and our own time. Those differences have a practical side and a Mussar side as well. As far as the Molad (new or no moon) and Nigud (opposition or full moon) go, we are talking about the easier to compute but less accurate and less natural and realistic times of today vs. the more accurate, more complicated, but natural and real times used by Sanhedrin. With a Sanhedrin, we are active partners in the working of the Calendar and must work with real numbers, real astronomy. Without a Sanhedrin, we have distanced ourselves from G-d and He has kept us remote. In Musaf on Rosh Chodesh and Chagim we speak of our iniquities causing our exile and being at a distance from our Land. But it is not just from our land. It is from G-d as well. Not too far, but not as close as it should be. [The
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