Month, The

On the essence of lunar time.

It was an eerie feeling as the orbit of the planets suddenly swung into reverse. The moon was no longer receiving and reflecting light; as though sucked inwards, radiance flowed from the moon to the sun...

Imagine the scene. The Jews are still slaves in Egypt, and now for the very first time ever they will hear a Torah lesson. And it's about the moon. The moon?! Is that what's on the agenda?

Time and place are two fundamental coordinates of life, and, in particular, of Jewish life and teaching. The unity of the Jewish calendar is a remarkable expression of the unity of the Jewish people.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Rosh Hashanah would be regular and Passover punctual? And there would be an absolute guarantee that the World Series and Yom Kippur don't clash...

The lunar calendar must have a special quality beyond its specific function, a pervasive characteristic, to merit its beginning Jewry’s service of G‑d.

What is so remarkable about moonlight? After all, it is only a weak reflection of the powerful sun...

Nature undergoes fundamental changes in reaction to the solar cycle. With the lunar cycle, however, the only substantial change is in our perception

The Jewish nation seems small and weak, but this is actually the key to our greatness. It allows us to reflect G‑d’s quintessential light to the world.

Torah law does not accept the testimony of witnesses who are related to each other. However, with respect to the witnesses required to establish the day a new month begins – via a sighting of the 'new moon' – Rabbi Shimon is of the opinion that the testim...