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I. Introduction
The terms Kiddush ha-Hodesh, the Sanctification of the New Month, Kiddush ha-Levanah, the Sanctification of the New Moon and Birkat ha-Hodesh the Blessing of the New Month, are three different concepts, though at first glance they seem to be identical. This paper will discuss all three, showing their origins, their liturgical formulae and various customs associated with them.
The Jewish calendar is Iunisolar. When the Jews left Egypt, the first commandment they were given concerned the calendar. The Israelites were instructed to recognize the month in which the Exodus took place as the first month of the year. (Ex. 12,2) Throughout the Bible, this month of the Exodus is always referred to as the "first month" of the year. Subsequent months are referred to as the "second" and "third" month and so on. The months did not have individual names until the Babylonian exile.1
Although the months in the Jewish calendar in the Bible were lunar, based on the revolution of the moon around the earth, the Bible does concern itself with the solar calendar. The celebration of the holiday of Passover must take place in the spring, during the month of Abib (Ex. 23,15), Abib referring to the ripening of the barley. Hence the lunar calendar had to be reconciled with the solar year. Consequently, the Jewish calendar became Iunisolar. Intercalating an extra month from time to time so that the month oîNisan would always be in the spring, made this adjustment possible.
II. Kiddush ha-Hodesh
Kiddush ha-Hodesh refers to the proclamation of the beginning of the new month by the Rabbinic Court. Before the Jewish calendar was fixed by astronomical calculations, the new month was determined based on the sighting of the new moon. Two witnesses who saw the new moon during the night would come before the High Court the next day and testify to the fact of their sighting. The Court would question them and ascertain their veracity. If convinced that they had actually seen the moon, the Court would then proclaim that day as the first of the new month. This was known as Kiddush ha-Hodesh, the Sanctification of the New Moon. At first this would take place in the Sanhédrin. After the destruction of the Temple...