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... As we enter the rainy season, we must be all the more careful to make sure we say KL, since we will often run into cloudy nights when KL is not to be said. Kiddush L'vana is said from when the moon begins to "Shine its light on the Earth" (which is understood as not including its first few days when the light is not yet bright). The bracha is appropriate as long as the moon is waxing. When it reaches its fullness and starts to wane, KL is not said anymore. The fact that the moon will appear full to us for a while after it actually is full, justfied some authorities' opinions that KL can be said after the half-way mark. However, the prevailing opinion is that the deadline for KL is the midpoint between the previous and the next molad. This month: Mon. Nov.6, 2:22am. [The Parshat Lech L'cha Homepage]
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