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...

Last opportunity this month for Kidush L'vana is Monday night, July 10, until 12:26am (of July 11).
This represents the NIGUD, the midpoint between the last molad and the next one.
It is based on average, rather than actual timing of the Moon's journey around the Earth, as the two of them (Earth and Moon) make their way around the Sun.
Nigud is known as Opposition in English. The actual NIGUD is Full Moon. The Full Moon this month occurs at 6:02am Israel Summer Time on Tuesday, July 11.
If K.L. can be said only during the time the Moon is increasing in size, i.e. until Full Moon, then can one say K.L. at 2:00am (for example) on July 11th? The Moon is not yet full. The answer is NO. We follow average, not actual. Period.

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