Hebrew Voices #153 – Sighting the New Moon in the Middle Ages
In this episode of Hebrew Voices #153, Sighting the New Moon in the Middle Ages, Nehemia speaks with a scholar at University College London about why Jews transitioned from sighting the new moon to a precalculated calendar, how Karaites remained … Continue reading →
In this episode of Hebrew Voices #153, Sighting the New Moon in the Middle Ages, Nehemia speaks with a scholar at University College London about why Jews transitioned from sighting the new moon to a precalculated calendar, how Karaites remained faithful to sighting the New Moon, and the calendar controversies they confronted.
I look forward to reading your comments!
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Hebrew Voices #153 – Sighting the New Moon in the Middle Ages
You are listening to Hebrew Voices with Nehemia Gordon. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.
Nehemia: So, it’s like 35 or 36 minutes?
Nadia: Something like that.
Nehemia: And that 35 or 36 minutes led to World War Zero between the Jews of Babylon and the Jews of Israel. Is that right?
Nadia: Yeah. So, for the next year, from the following Passover, from Passover 922 until the end of 923, festivals in the Palestinian and in the Babylonian communities fell on different days.
Nehemia: Shalom and welcome back. I'm here once again with Dr. Nadia Vidro of University College, London, and we had an amazing conversation about the Aviv and how it was observed in the Karaite communities in the 10th and 11th century, this aspect of the biblical calendar. And now I want to talk about the new moon, because there's kind of two pillars of, as I understand it, the biblical calendar, what some would call the Karaite calendar, and in this case… I think there's probably even less disagreement in theory between the Rabbanites and the Karaites, and it just comes down to practice. Meaning, in principle, most Rabbanites historically said that, yes, originally it was the sighting of the new moon, and then when the Messiah comes, it'll go back to the sighting of the new moon. I think maybe Sa’adiah Gaon was an exception to that.
Nadia: Exactly. Sa’adiah Gaon was a big exception to that.
Nehemia: He’s a special case.
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Dunning-Kruger for ya.
Very important work she is doing! Nehemia too, thank you!
He also says he will bring back those who mourn the feast days while in exile.
Now that the land is back in posession the new moon and Aviv can be witnessed and the trumpet blown in Zion.
Nothing about that says the sons of Aaron have authority to determine the calendar. They are given an obligation to signify when certain calendar events take place. This does not prohibit anyone else from signifying likewise, or searching out scripture to determine the correct instructions for determining the calendar.
The Torah portions are themselves manmade. Why go through the trouble of lining up a manmade tradition to the biblical calendar when you can just follow the common calendar that tradition is tied to?
Very interesting. Seems like there has been struggles over this for centuries.
I have often questioned whether new moons were Sabbaths or not as well.
There are several times in the Tanakh where the term new moon is sandwiched between weekly Sabbaths, and annual Holy Days’ 1 Chr 23:31; 2 Chr 2:4, 8:13, 31:3; Neh 10:33; Eze 45:17; & Hos 2:11.
But like you, nobody ever seems to teach about it? How about it Nehemia?
Scripture says, Num 10:8-10 8 “The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come. 9 When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies. 10 Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”
THE SONS OF AARON declare the lunar calendar to Yah’s people. No one else. No other tribe given this authority. So why are people today pretending to be priests?
btw, When Israel was thrown out of the land for their disobedience the first time, Yah says feasts/new moon/high sabbaths (lunar) CEASE.This is because they were not to be done outside of the land to begin with (Ex 12 & 13). Not sure why most of you contradict Yah or claim He does not have authority over you to cause them to cease.
It is not. Amos 8:5 is speaking about the Sabbatical year, not the weekly Sabbath.
Joe doesn’t agree. One doesn’t need calculations for the calendar.
Nehemia why do you do the torah portions according to the schedule of the man made rabbinical calendar instead of the biblical calendar?
I go by dark conjunction, it is interesting how many problems the FVC causes, including moonths shorter than 29 days, which does not happen in nature.
I would like to say that personally seeking YHVH in fasting and prayer is our truest directive to follow. God is faithful to Himself and He says He will answer those who diligently search for him.
I would like to hear what Joe Dumond has to say about this info and if it would conflict with his calculations with the calendar.
where can i find the 1st part of Dr. Vidro’s presentation on your site. tried finding it, but must not be giving the correct information
May question is based on Amos 8: 5!
Is or is not the first day of the month a Shabbat?
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