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 molad was Tuesday morning at 2:08am, in Israel. Three full days later is the earliest time for Kiddush L'vana. However, at 2:08 in the wee hours of Friday morning (if we can refer to 2:08am in that way), the moon will have set 5½ hours earlier. So the first opportunity for K.L. would be Friday night. Except that we don't say K.L. on Shabbat or Chag - unless it is the last opportunity, which it isn't. Therefore, the first opportunity for KL this month (and the favorite time for most people) is Motza'ei Shabbat, March 4th. Shabbat ends at 6:16pm and the moon won't set until 10:51, so there is plenty of time on Motza"Sh to say KL, weather-permitting. And don't forget that the usual joyous dance at the end of KL should be even more joyous, since we have entered the merry month of Adar. [The
Parshat T'ruma Homepage]
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