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19. Sanctification of the Month - Kiddush ha-Chodesh
A month begins with the first appearance of the new
moon; this is either 29 or 30 days after the previous new
moon. The courts in the land of Israel are commanded to
calculate when the new moon is due to appear and to
proclaim it so that people will know the dates of the
festivals, as it says "This month shall be your[s]",1 and it
says "[Ha-Shem's seasons] that you shall proclaim holy",2
and it says "And you shall keep this statute at its season
from year to year".3,a When the Sanhedrin (an ordained
rabbinical court) existed the new moon was proclaimed on
the 30th day on the basis of observation by witnesses,
and distant communities were informed by messenger when necessary;
those who could be reached in time celebrated
the festivals for only one day, but others celebrated two
days since they did not know whether the new moon was
on the 30th or 31st day. Today we make use of computations
originally worked out by the Sanhedrin; but we
still follow the original customs with regard to the
second days of the festivals.b
Our calendar is based on lunar months and solar years,
as it says "Observe the spring month".4 The solar year
is about eleven days longer than twelve lunar months;
since a year must consist of complete months, as it says
"[It shall be for you the first] of the months of the
year",1 when the excess amounts to about thirty days we
make a thirteen-month year by adding a second month of
Adar.c This is done by a group of members of the
Sanhedrin with the permission of its President if they
decide that otherwise the vernal equinox or the spring
growing season would occur too late or it would be
impossible to prepare for Pesach in time.d It must be
proclaimed between Rosh ha-Shanah and the 29th day of Adar.e
Today we determine it on the basis of computations.f
Sources: |
| 1. Ex. 12:2 |
a. 1:3,5,7 |
| 2. Lev. 23:2 |
b. 1:6; 3:8-9; 5:1,4,5,13; see 18:8 |
| 3. Ex. 13:10 |
c. 1:1-2; 4:1 |
| 4. Deut. 16:1 |
d. 4:2,5,9,12 |
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e. 4:13-14 |
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f. 5:1 |
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Time Study Rabbi Raymond Beyda - 5766

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