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 solar eclipse of March 29th, which was only 83% of total here in Israel, occurred roughly at the time of the astronomical (actual) molad, as solar eclipses always do. For halachic considerations, we use an average figure for the molad, which was more than two hours after the actual molad. Kidush L’vana can be said, each month, only until the halfway point from one molad to the next. Specifically, SOF ZMAN K.L. is 14 days, 18h and 22 minutes after the announced molad of the month. For Nisan 5766, that point, called the NIGUD, will be in the morning of the first day of Pesach. That means that the last opportunity for KL is the Seder night. All night. Although we usually do not say KL on Leil Shabbat or Chag, when it is the last op, we can. [The
Parshat Tzav Homepage]
|
