1It is well-known and obvious that although the calculations indicate that the moon should be sighted on a particular night, its sighting is only probable. It is, however, also possible that it will not be sighted, because it is covered by clouds, because the place from where it could be sighted is in a valley,1 or because there is a tall mountain in the west,2 blocking view of the people in the place from where it could be sighted, and it will be as if they are in a valley. אדָּבָר יָדוּעַ וּבָרוּר, שֶׁאִם יוֹצִיא לְךָ הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן שֶׁהַיָּרֵחַ יֵרָאֶה בַּלַּיְלָה - אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה וְאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה, מִפְּנֵי הֶעָבִים שֶׁמְּכַסִּין אוֹתוֹ, אוֹ מִפְּנֵי הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁהוּא גַּיְא, אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה הַר גָּבוֹהַּ כְּנֶגֶד רוּחַ מַעֲרָב לְאַנְשֵׁי אוֹתוֹ הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁנִּמְצְאוּ כְּאִלּוּ הֵן יוֹשְׁבִין בְּגַיְא.
For the moon will not be able to be sighted by a person in a low place, even when its crescent is large. Conversely, it will be possible for a person on a high and lofty mountain to sight the moon, even though its crescent is very small. Similarly, sighting it will be possible for a person dwelling on the seashore, or a person travelling on a ship in the Mediterranean Sea, even though its crescent is very small.שֶׁהַיָּרֵחַ לֹא יֵרָאֶה לְמִי שֶׁהוּא בְּמָקוֹם נָמוּךְ, אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה גָּדוֹל, וְיֵרָאֶה לְמִי שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד בְּרֹאשׁ הַר גָּבוֹהַּ וְתָלוּל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַיָּרֵחַ קָטָן בְּיוֹתֵר; וְכֵן יֵרָאֶה לְמִי שֶׁשּׁוֹכֵן עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם אוֹ לְמִי שֶׁמְּהַלֵּךְ בִּסְפִינָה בַּיָּם הַגָּדוֹל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא קָטָן בְּיוֹתֵר.
2Similarly, in the rainy season, on a clear day, the visibility of the moon will be greater than it is in the summer. For on a clear day in the rainy season, the air is clear and the heavens appear more brilliant, because there is no dust clouding the air. In the summer, by contrast, the air is like smoke, because of the dust. Therefore, the moon will appear small.בוְכֵן בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים, אִם יִהְיֶה צַח, יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה. לְפִי שֶׁבִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים, אִם יִהְיֶה צַח, יִהְיֶה הָאַוִּיר זַךְ הַרְבֵּה וְיֵרָאֶה הָרָקִיעַ בְּטֹהַר יוֹתֵר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין שָׁם אָבָק שֶׁיִּתְעָרַב בָּאַוִּיר. אֲבָל בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה יִהְיֶה הָאַוִּיר כְּאִלּוּ הוּא מְעֻשָּׁן מִפְּנֵי הָאָבָק, וְלֹא יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ הַקָּטָן.
3When the two limits mentioned with regard to the arc of sighting and the first longitude are short, the crescent of the moon will be small, and sighting the moon will be possible only from a very high altitude.גוְכָל זְמָן שֶׁתִּמְצָא קֶשֶׁת הָרְאִיָּה וְהָאֹרֶךְ הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁתַּעֲרֹךְ לָהּ עִם שְׁנֵי הַקִּצִּין שֶׁלָּהֶם בְּצִמְצוּם - יִהְיֶה הַיָּרֵחַ קָטָן בְּיוֹתֵר, וְלֹא יֵרָאֶה אֶלָא בְּמָקוֹם גָּבוֹהַּ בְּיוֹתֵר.
If the arc of sighting and the first longitude are long, and several degrees were added to their minimal limits, the moon will appear large.וְאִם תִּמְצָא קֶשֶׁת הָרְאִיָּה וְהָאֹרֶךְ הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲרוּכִין הַרְבֵּה, וְהוֹסִיפוּ עַל סוֹף הַקִּצִּים שֶׁלָהֶן מַעֲלוֹת - יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ גָּדוֹל.
Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)
Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.
Its size and the extent of its visibility will increase according to the length of the arc of sighting and the first longitude.וּלְפִי אֹרֶךְ הַקֶּשֶׁת וְהָאֹרֶךְ הָרִאשׁוֹן יִהְיֶה גָּדְלוֹ, וּגְלִיָּתוֹ לַכֹּל.
4Therefore, the court should always have its attention focused on the following two matters: a) the season when the moon was sighted, and b) the place where the witnesses were located. The judges should ask the witnesses, “Where were you when you saw the moon?”דלְפִיכָךְ רָאוּי לְבֵית דִּין לָשׂוּם שְׁנֵי דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ בְּלִבָּם, שֶׁהֵן: זְמָן הָרְאִיָּה וּמְקוֹמָהּ, וְשׁוֹאֲלִין אֶת הָעֵדִים 'בְּאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם רְאִיתֶם?'
For if the arc of sighting was short, and according to the calculations there is only a limited opportunity to see the moon, more care is taken regarding their testimony. For example, the arc of sighting was nine degrees and five minutes, and the first longitude was exactly thirteen degrees, and witnesses came, claiming that they saw the moon: If this occurs in the summer, or if the witnesses were located in a low place, we suspect the veracity of their testimony and subject them to much cross-examination. In the rainy season, or in a very high place, under such circumstances, the moon would surely be sighted unless clouds obscured it.שֶׁאִם הָיְתָה קֶשֶׁת הָרְאִיָּה קְצָרָה, וְיִתֵּן הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה בְּצִמְצוּם, כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיְתָה קֶשֶׁת הָרְאִיָּה תֵּשַׁע מַעֲלוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה חֲלָקִים, וְהָיָה הָאֹרֶךְ הָרִאשׁוֹן שְׁלוֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מַעֲלוֹת בְּשָׁוֶה, וּבָאוּ עֵדִים שֶׁרָאוּהוּ: אִם הָיָה בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה, אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בְּמָקוֹם נָמוּךְ - חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהֶן, וּבוֹדְקִין אוֹתָן הַרְבֵּה; וְאִם הָיָה בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים, אוֹ בְּמָקוֹם גָּבוֹהַּ בְּיוֹתֵר - וַדַּאי יֵרָאֶה, אִם לֹא יִהְיוּ שָׁם עָבִים הַמַּבְדִּילִין.
5Let us examine a hypothetical situation: Witnesses saw the new moon at the appropriate time.3 They came to the court, and gave testimony. The court accepted their testimony and sanctified this first month. Afterwards, they counted twenty-nine days from the day that was sanctified. On the night of the thirtieth, the moon was not sighted, either because sighting it was impossible, or because it was covered by clouds. The court waited the entire thirtieth day, as we have explained,4 but witnesses did not arrive. Therefore, they added a day to the month, and thus, Rosh Chodesh of the second month was on the thirty-first day, as explained.5העֵדִים שֶׁרָאוּ אֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ בִּזְמַנּוֹ וּבָאוּ וְהֵעִידוּ, וְקִבְּלוּם בֵּית דִּין וְקִדְּשׁוּ אֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה הָרִאשׁוֹן, וּמָנוּ תִּשְׁעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם מִן הַיּוֹם הַמְּקֻדָּשׁ, וְלֵיל שְׁלוֹשִׁים לֹא נִרְאָה הַיָּרֵחַ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לְהֵרָאוֹת אוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכִּסּוּהוּ עָבִים, וַהֲרֵי בֵּית דִּין מְצַפִּין לוֹ כָּל יוֹם שְׁלוֹשִׁים כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ, וְלֹא בָאוּ עֵדִים, וְעִבְּרוּ אֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ, וְנִמְצָא יוֹם רֹאשׁ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי יוֹם אֶחָד וּשְׁלוֹשִׁים כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ.
6They began to count twenty-nine days from the day of Rosh Chodesh in the second month, but the moon was not sighted. If you would say that again a day should be added to the month—i.e., the following day would be the thirtieth of the month, and the thirty-first day should be Rosh Chodesh of the third month an undesirable situation would arise. For it is possible that the moon would not be sighted on the night of the thirtieth of this month as well. Thus, hypothetically, we could see an ongoing pattern, in which a day is added and the new month begins after thirty days throughout the year. Thus, in the last month, it would be possible for the moon to be seen on the night of the twenty-fifth or the night of the twenty-sixth.6 There could be no more ludicrous and demeaning situation than this.ווְהִתְחִילוּ לִמְנוֹת תִּשְׁעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם מִן יוֹם רֹאשׁ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי, וְלֵיל שְׁלוֹשִׁים לֹא נִרְאָה הַיָּרֵחַ - אִם תֹּאמַר שֶׁכָּךְ מְעַבְּרִין רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ זֶה וְעוֹשִׂין אוֹתוֹ שְׁלוֹשִׁים, וְקוֹבְעִין רֹאשׁ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי יוֹם אֶחָד וּשְׁלוֹשִׁים - כָּךְ אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בְּלֵיל שְׁלוֹשִׁים, גַּם מֵחֹדֶשׁ זֶה, וְנִמְצְאוּ מְעַבְּרִין וְהוֹלְכִין וְעוֹשִׂין חֳדָשִׁים שְׁלוֹשִׁים אַחַר שְׁלוֹשִׁים, כָּל הַשָּׁנָה כֻּלָּהּ, וְנִמְצָא בְּחֹדֶשׁ אַחֲרוֹן, אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בְּלֵיל חֲמִשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים בּוֹ אוֹ בְּלֵיל שִׁשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים - וְאֵין לְךָ דְּבַר שְׂחוֹק וְהֶפְסֵד יוֹתֵר מִזֶּה.
7Nor can one say that the hypothetical situation described—that the moon is never sighted throughout the year—is an infrequent occurrence that need not be considered.זוְאַל תֹּאמַר שֶׁהַדָּבָר הַזֶּה דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מָצוּי הוּא, שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בְּכָל הַשָּׁנָה.
The contrary is true; it is very likely to take place. This often occurs in countries that have long rainy seasons and cloudy skies. For the intent is not that the moon will never be seen throughout the year, but that it will not be sighted at the beginning of the month, and will be sighted only afterwards.אֶלָא דָּבָר קָרוֹב הוּא, הַרְבֵּה, וּפְעָמִים רַבּוֹת יֶאֱרַע זֶה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ, בַּמְּדִינוֹת שֶׁזְּמַן הַגְּשָׁמִים שָׁם אָרוּךְ וְהֶעָבִים רַבִּים; שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ אוֹמְרִין שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בְּכָל הַשָּׁנָה, אֶלָא שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה בִּתְחִלַּת הֶחֳדָשִׁים וְיֵרָאֶה אַחַר כָּךְ בַּיָּמִים.
In certain months it will not be sighted, because sighting it is impossible, and in the months when sighting it is possible, it possibly will not be sighted because of the clouds, or because its crescent was very small, and no one focused his attention on sighting it.וּפְּעָמִים, לֹא יֵרָאֶה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה, וָחֳדָשִׁים שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה בָּהֶם, לֹא יֵרָאֶה בָּהֶם מִפְּנֵי הֶעָבִים, אוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה קָטָן בְּיוֹתֵר, וְלֹא נִתְכַּוֵּן אָדָם לִרְאוֹתוֹ.
8These difficulties were avoided due to the following tradition which existed among our Sages, having been transmitted from one to another in a chain extending back to Moses our teacher: When the moon was not sighted at the beginning of the months, month after month, the court establishes the following sequence, one full month with thirty days, one lacking month with twenty-nine days. In this manner, they would calculate and establish one full month and one lacking month—establishing these months, but not sanctifying them.7 For the sanctification of the months is dependent solely on the sighting of the moon.חאֶלָא הַקַּבָּלָה שֶׁבְּיַד הַחֲכָמִים, אִישׁ מִפִּי אִישׁ מִפִּי מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, כָּךְ הִיא: שֶׁבִּזְמַן שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בִּתְחִלַּת הֶחֳדָשִׁים חֹדֶשׁ אַחַר חֹדֶשׁ, בֵּית דִּין קוֹבְעִין חֹדֶשׁ מְעֻבָּר מִשְּׁלוֹשִׁים יוֹם, וְחֹדֶשׁ חָסֵר מִתִּשְׁעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם. וְכֵן מְחַשְּׁבִין, וְקוֹבְעִין חֹדֶשׁ מְעֻבָּר וְחֹדֶשׁ חָסֵר - בִּקְבִיעָה לֹא בְּקִדּוּשׁ, שֶׁאֵין מְקַדְּשִׁין אֶלָא עַל הָרְאִיָּה.
At times they would have a full month follow another full month, or a lacking month follow another lacking month, depending on the results of their calculations.וּפְעָמִים עוֹשִׂין מָלֵא אַחַר מָלֵא, אוֹ חָסֵר אַחַר חָסֵר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה לָהֶם מִן הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן.
9The intent of their calculations is always that it is possible to sight the moon in the following month at its proper time,8 or on the night following the added day, but not to sight it beforehand—e.g., on the night of the twenty-eighth.טוּמִתְכַּוְּנִין לְעוֹלָם בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹנָם, שֶׁאִם יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַבָּא, יֵרָאֶה בִּזְמַנּוֹ אוֹ בְּלֵיל עִבּוּרוֹ, לֹא שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה קֹדֶם זְמַנּוֹ, שֶׁהוּא לֵיל שְׁמוֹנֶה וְעֶשְׂרִים.
Through the sighting calculations mentioned above, it is possible for you to determine when it will be possible for the moon to be sighted, and when it is possible that it will not be sighted. The court relies on similar calculations and accordingly, establishes two full months in succession, or two lacking months in succession.וּבְחֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹת הָרְאִיָּה הָאֵלּוּ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ, יִתְבָּאֵר לְךָ וְתֵדַע מָתַי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה וּמָתַי אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה; וְעַל זֶה סוֹמְכִין וּמְעַבְּרִין חֹדֶשׁ אַחַר חֹדֶשׁ, אוֹ עוֹשִׂין חֹדֶשׁ חָסֵר אַחַר חֹדֶשׁ חָסֵר.
Never should there be fewer than four full months in a year, nor should there ever be more than eight full months.9וּלְעוֹלָם אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵאַרְבָּעָה חֳדָשִׁים הַמְּעֻבָּרִין בְּשָׁנָה, וְלֹא מוֹסִיפִין עַל שְׁמוֹנָה חֳדָשִׁים הַמְּעֻבָּרִין.
When a full month is established according to calculations, a celebratory feast is also made in honor of the full month, as mentioned previously in Chapter 3.10 (Halacha 7)וְגַם לְעִבּוּר חֳדָשִׁים אֵלּוּ שֶׁמְּעַבְּרִין לְפִי חֶשְׁבּוֹן, עוֹשִׂין סְעוּדַת עִבּוּר הַחֹדֶשׁ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ בְּפֵרֶק שְׁלִישִׁי.
10Whenever you find statements in the Talmud11 according to which it appears that the court relies on computations rather than the testimony of witnesses, or that it there is a chain of tradition extending from Moses at Sinai that this matter has been entrusted to them, and it is their decision whether to make the month lacking or full, and similarly, the fact that, during one year, Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi declared nine months as lacking12—these and all similar matters are dependent on this principle and apply at a time when the moon is not sighted at the appropriate time.יוְכָל שֶׁתִּמְצָא בַּתַּלְמוּד מִדְּבָרִים שֶׁמַּרְאִין שֶׁבֵּית דִּין סוֹמְכִין עַל הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן, וּמִפִּי מֹשֶׁה מִסִּינַי שֶׁהַדָּבָר מָסוּר לָהֶם וְהָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדָם לְחַסֵּר אוֹ לְעַבֵּר, וְכֵן זֶה שֶׁחִסֵּר רַבִּי תִּשְׁעָה חֳדָשִׁים בְּשָׁנָה, וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בְּזֶה - הַכֹּל עַל עִיקָר זֶה הוּא בָּנוּי, בִּזְמַן שֶׁלֹּא נִרְאָה הַחֹדֶשׁ בִּזְמַנּוֹ.
11Similarly, the statements of our Sages13 that a day is added to the month when necessary, applies in an instance when a full month is declared according to the calculations, so that one month is made lacking, and another month full.14 They have the authority to declare full months in succession one after the other, and lacking months in succession. Only when the moon is not seen at the appropriate time does the court declare full months when necessary. When, however, the moon is seen at the appropriate time—its first shining after its conjunction with the sun—it is always sanctified.יאוְכֵן זֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁמְּעַבְּרִין אֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ לְצֹרֶךְ, הוּא בָּחֳדָשִׁים אֵלּוּ שֶׁמְּעַבְּרִין אוֹתָן לְפִי חֶשְׁבּוֹן, וְעוֹשִׂין אֶחָד מָלֵא וְאֶחָד חָסֵר, וְיֵשׁ לָהֶם לְעַבֵּר חֹדֶשׁ אַחַר חֹדֶשׁ אוֹ לְחַסֵּר - בָּזֶה הוּא שֶׁמְּעַבְּרִין לְצֹרֶךְ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא נִרְאָה הַיָּרֵחַ בִּזְמַנּוֹ; אֲבָל בְּעֵת שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בִּזְמַנּוֹ, שֶׁהוּא תְּחִלַּת הֱיוֹתוֹ נִרְאֶה אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְקַבֵּץ עִם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ - מְקַדְּשִׁין לְעוֹלָם.
12All the above concepts apply when there is a court that relies on the testimony of witnesses. In the present era, by contrast, we rely solely on the calculations based on the mean motion of the sun and the moon that are simple and widespread throughout Israel, as explained previously in these laws.15 (Ch. 6-10) יבוְכָל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ, בִּזְמַן שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם בֵּית דִּין, וְסוֹמְכִין עַל הָרְאִיָּה; אֲבָל בִּזְמַנִּים אֵלּוּ, אֵין סוֹמְכִין אֶלָא עַל הַקְּבִיעָה בְּזֶה הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן הָאֶמְצָעִי, הַפָּשׁוּט בְּפִי כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בַּהֲלָכוֹת אֵלּוּ.
13It is explained in the texts of astronomical and geometrical calculations that if the moon is sighted in Eretz Yisrael, it will be sighted in all the lands in the world that are located to the west of Eretz Yisrael and are at the same latitude.16 If the calculations indicate that the moon will not be sighted in Eretz Yisrael, sighting it is, nevertheless, possible in those lands that are west of Eretz Yisrael and at the same latitude. יגיִתְבָּאֵר בְּסִפְרֵי חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַתְּקוּפוֹת וְהַגֵּימְטַרְיוֹת, שֶׁאִם יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, יֵרָאֶה בְּכָל מְדִינוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֵן לְמַעֲרַב אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְכֻוָּנוֹת כְּנֶגְדָּהּ. וְאִם יִתֵּן הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה בִּמְדִינוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת שֶׁהֵן לְמַעֲרַב אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְכֻוָּנוֹת כְּנֶגְדָּהּ.
Therefore, the fact that the moon is sighted in a country that lies west of Eretz Yisrael is not an indication of whether or not the moon will be sighted in Eretz Yisrael.17לְפִיכָךְ: אִם יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בִּמְדִינָה שֶׁהִיא לְמַעֲרַב אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵין בְּזֶה רְאָיָה שֶׁנִּרְאָה הַיָּרֵחַ בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
14If, however, the moon is not sighted on the mountains of the countries located west of Eretz Yisrael that are at the same latitude, the moon surely was not sighted in Eretz Yisrael.ידאֲבָל אִם לֹא יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בְּרָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים בַּמְּדִינָה הַמַּעֲרָבִית הַמְּכֻוֶּנֶת כְּנֶגֶד אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּיָּדוּעַ שֶׁלֹּא נִרְאָה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
15Similarly, if the moon was not sighted in Eretz Yisrael, it certainly was not sighted in those countries that are east of Eretz Yisrael, and at the same latitude. If the moon was sighted in Eretz Yisrael, however, there is no certainty whether it will be sighted in these easterly lands; it may be sighted, and it may not be sighted.טווְכֵן אִם לֹא יֵרָאֶה הַיָּרֵחַ בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּיָּדוּעַ שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה בְּכָל מְדִינוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֵן לְמִזְרַח אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְכֻוָּנוֹת כְּנֶגְדָּהּ; וְאִם יֵרָאֶה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה בִּמְדִינוֹת מִזְרָחִיּוֹת וְאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יֵרָאֶה.
Accordingly, if the moon was sighted in a country located to the east of Eretz Yisrael at the same latitude, the moon was surely sighted in Eretz Yisrael. If, however, the moon was not sighted in a country that lies east of Eretz Yisrael, that is not an indication that the moon will not be sighted in Eretz Yisrael. On the contrary, it is possible that it will be sighted in Eretz Yisrael.לְפִיכָךְ: אִם יֵרָאֶה בִּמְדִינָה שֶׁהִיא לְמִזְרַח אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְכֻוֶּנֶת כְּנֶגְדָּהּ, בַּיָּדוּעַ שֶׁנִּרְאָה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל; וְאִם לֹא יֵרָאֶה בַּמְּדִינָה הַמִּזְרָחִית, אֵין בְּזֶה רְאָיָה, אֶלָא אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
16All the above statements apply when the countries to the west and to the east of Eretz Yisrael are at the same latitude as Eretz Yisrael—i.e., they are 30 to 35 degrees north of the equator.טזוְכָל אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים בְּשֶׁהָיוּ הַמְּדִינוֹת שֶׁבְּמַעֲרָב וְשֶׁבְּמִזְרָח מְכֻוָּנוֹת, כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹטוֹת לִצְפוֹן הָעוֹלָם מִשְּׁלוֹשִׁים מַעֲלוֹת עַד חָמֵשׁ וּשְׁלוֹשִׁים מַעֲלוֹת.
If they are located in a more northerly position, or in a less northerly position, different principles apply, for they are not parallel to Eretz Yisrael.אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ נוֹטוֹת לַצָּפוֹן יוֹתֵר מִזֶּה אוֹ פָּחוֹת, מִשְׁפָּטִים אֲחֵרִים יֵשׁ לָהֶן - שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינָן מְכֻוָּנוֹת כְּנֶגֶד אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
In the cities that are located to the east and west of Eretz Yisrael, the statements we made concerning the sighting of the moon are of abstract interest only, to clarify all the laws regarding the sighting of the moon to make the Torah great and glorious. The intent is not that the people living in the east or the west should depend on their sighting of the moon, or that their sighting should be of any consequence whatsoever. Instead, we rely only on the sanctification of the moon performed by the court in Eretz Yisrael, as we have explained several times previously.18 וּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בְּעָרֵי מִזְרָח וּמַעֲרָב, אֵינָן אֶלָא לְהַגִּיד כָּל מִשְׁפְּטֵי הָרְאִיָּה לְהַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וּלְהַאְדִּירָהּ - לֹא שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בְּנֵי מִזְרָח אוֹ בְּנֵי מַעֲרָב סוֹמְכִין עַל רְאִיַּת הַיָּרֵחַ אוֹ תּוֹעִיל לָהֶם כְּלוּם, אֶלָא לְעוֹלָם אֵין סוֹמְכִין אֶלָא עַל קִדּוּשׁ בֵּית דִּין שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים.
