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... KL for 3-day people began last Tuesday. 7-day people have their first and best opportunity on Motza"Sh T'ruma. Last op this month for all is Motza"Sh, Leil (regular) Purim, until the eclipse begins. Next Motza'ei Shabbat, there will be a Total Lunar Eclipse from 11:30pm to 3:11am. More on that IY"H next week. As to this Motza'ei Shabbat and the first op for KL for 7-day people (meaning, people who consider the first opportunity for Kiddush L'vana to be 7 full days after the molad), there is an interesting discussion in Sefer Kidush L'vana Otzar Halachot uMinhagim by R' Yaakov Tannenbaum. He writes that there were those who would not say KL on Leil 7 Adar, Moshe Rabeinu's yahrzeit, finding the moods of 7 Adar and KL incongruous. Others would specifically say KL on 7 Adar, even if 7 full days from the molad hadn't passed. A significance was noted that with Moshe's passing, Yehoshua took over the leadership, and he is linked to the Moon as Moshe was to the Sun. Other factors that come in are Motza'ei Shabbat and wintertime with probable clouds, both factors which contribute to not delaying KL once it may be said. Bottom line: This Motza"Sh is the first opportunity for KL for 7-day people. It's Motza'ei Shabbat, the preferred night for KL. It's also Leil & Adar which some say you shouldn't, others say you should, others say the 7 Adar date is irrelevant to KL. Therefore, this Motza"Sh is perfect for KL (weather permitting) for those who have not yet said it. [The Parshat T'ruma Homepage]
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