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 Shabbat, we bench the Rosh Chodesh of the month which the Torah calls the Head of the Months of the Year.
The Adar preceding Nissan always has 29 days; Rosh Chodesh Nissan is always one day. Never a MON, WED, or FRI.
ROSH CHODESH NISAN YIH-YEH MACHAR B'YOM RISHON HABA ALEINU V'AL KOL YISRA'EL L'TOVA
The (announced) molad occurs on Shabbat morning, 6h 24m 6p
HAMOLAD HAYA HABOKER, SHABBAT KODESH, ESRIM V'ARBA DAKOT V'SHISHA CHALAKIM ACHAREI SHEISH
which is 7:03am Israel Summer Time
Since it is highly unlikely (in Israel) to bench Rosh Chodesh before 7:03am, we say "the molad WAS..."

[The Parshat Tazria Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage] [How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center] [About TORAH tidbits]
 [www.ou.org]