Click for Audio	New Moon By James R. Faulkner

1. Karaite Korner Newsletter #375
• New Moon Report - March 2009 - First Biblical Month

On Friday March 27, 2009 we did not sight the moon from Jerusalem.
The horizon was covered with clouds. The moon would have been visible if there had not been clouds and therefore based on the principle of potential visibility tonight begins the new biblical month. There may have been observers who sighted the moon from other locations around Israel but we do not expect to receive these reports until after Shabbat.
Shanah Tovah!
Happy New Year!

Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel

2. Potential Visibility?
• Why are they observing if they don't follow the results?
• If it were the 30th day of the month, then yes it is an automatic.
• Calendar clearly shows it is 29th day of the 12th month from last months observation.
• No spotting of the moon, then the next day, the 30th is first day of the month.
3. How does this affect us?
• Passover and Days of Unleaved bread will be one day later now.
• Because the Sabbath in the Days of Unleavened Bread is now shifted by a week, Pentecost will be a week later now.