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Difference between revisions of "Committee concerning the fixing of the Calendar"


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[[image:new_moon.jpg|thumb|Examining witnesses during 2nd Temple times]]
 
[[image:new_moon.jpg|thumb|Examining witnesses during 2nd Temple times]]
A special court was established to accept evidence concerning the sighting of the New Moon, as required by Jewish Law. This court is made up of various justices that are assembled to hear evidence as the opportunity permits.  The purpose of the court is to increase awareness, develop skills, and resolve halachic issues that arise when determining the Jewish Calendar according to testimony by witnesses. At this point there is no intention to supercede the mathematical calendar currently in use and fix the calendar on the basis of the testimony, such a step should be unacceptable to the public and spiritual leadership. Nevertheless, witnesses appear before the court and are investigated with precision according to what they saw.  Sometimes the witness also bring photographic evidence to support their testimony.  Evidence is already being collected by the yiresh shomaim volunteers throughout the Land of Israel, with the intention that testimony can be presented before the court in a full legal fashion when the peoples' hearts are ready for it.  
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A special court was established to accept evidence concerning the sighting of the New Moon, as required by Jewish Law. This court is made up of various justices who are assembled to hear evidence as the opportunity permits.  The purpose of the court is to increase awareness, develop skills, and resolve halachic issues that arise when determining the Jewish Calendar according to testimony by witnesses. At this point there is no intention to supercede the mathematical calendar currently in use and fix the calendar on the basis of the testimony, such a step should be unacceptable to the public and spiritual leadership. Nevertheless, witnesses appear before the court and are investigated with precision according to what they saw.  Sometimes the witness may also bring photographic evidence to support their testimony.  Evidence is already being collected by the yiresh shomaim volunteers throughout the Land of Israel, with the intention that testimony can be presented before the court in a full legal fashion when the peoples' hearts are ready for it.  
  
 
It should be noted that the mathematical calendar of Hillel II has been in use since the year 4119 (359 CE), and it has functioned for approximately 1600 years without difficultly.  However, in recent years, a situation has been created where more and more frequently the onset of spring does not coincide with calendar currently in use.  This means that the calendar is beginning to drift noticeably.  Albeit, the rate of drift is very slow, much slower than other lunar calendars (such as the Islamic calendar).  However, if continued unchecked, we will be celebrating Pesach in the summer, rather than the spring.  Our current calendar will exceed halachically acceptable limits and we will be celebrating Biblically commanded holidays at times other than when Scripture requires them to be celebrated.  One could argue that if a change is necessary in any event, it would be most correct according to Biblical and Jewish Law to once again use the system of witnesses.  But it is certain that we will not longer be permitted to use the mathematical calendar of Hillel II in the near future.
 
It should be noted that the mathematical calendar of Hillel II has been in use since the year 4119 (359 CE), and it has functioned for approximately 1600 years without difficultly.  However, in recent years, a situation has been created where more and more frequently the onset of spring does not coincide with calendar currently in use.  This means that the calendar is beginning to drift noticeably.  Albeit, the rate of drift is very slow, much slower than other lunar calendars (such as the Islamic calendar).  However, if continued unchecked, we will be celebrating Pesach in the summer, rather than the spring.  Our current calendar will exceed halachically acceptable limits and we will be celebrating Biblically commanded holidays at times other than when Scripture requires them to be celebrated.  One could argue that if a change is necessary in any event, it would be most correct according to Biblical and Jewish Law to once again use the system of witnesses.  But it is certain that we will not longer be permitted to use the mathematical calendar of Hillel II in the near future.

Revision as of 18:59, 28 April 2009

Examining witnesses during 2nd Temple times

A special court was established to accept evidence concerning the sighting of the New Moon, as required by Jewish Law. This court is made up of various justices who are assembled to hear evidence as the opportunity permits. The purpose of the court is to increase awareness, develop skills, and resolve halachic issues that arise when determining the Jewish Calendar according to testimony by witnesses. At this point there is no intention to supercede the mathematical calendar currently in use and fix the calendar on the basis of the testimony, such a step should be unacceptable to the public and spiritual leadership. Nevertheless, witnesses appear before the court and are investigated with precision according to what they saw. Sometimes the witness may also bring photographic evidence to support their testimony. Evidence is already being collected by the yiresh shomaim volunteers throughout the Land of Israel, with the intention that testimony can be presented before the court in a full legal fashion when the peoples' hearts are ready for it.

It should be noted that the mathematical calendar of Hillel II has been in use since the year 4119 (359 CE), and it has functioned for approximately 1600 years without difficultly. However, in recent years, a situation has been created where more and more frequently the onset of spring does not coincide with calendar currently in use. This means that the calendar is beginning to drift noticeably. Albeit, the rate of drift is very slow, much slower than other lunar calendars (such as the Islamic calendar). However, if continued unchecked, we will be celebrating Pesach in the summer, rather than the spring. Our current calendar will exceed halachically acceptable limits and we will be celebrating Biblically commanded holidays at times other than when Scripture requires them to be celebrated. One could argue that if a change is necessary in any event, it would be most correct according to Biblical and Jewish Law to once again use the system of witnesses. But it is certain that we will not longer be permitted to use the mathematical calendar of Hillel II in the near future.

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