Dear Rabbi Simon,
Today [30 March 2025] is Rosh Chodesh Nissan, but as you pointed out in shul yesterday, the new moon was already visible in Yerushalayim earlier on Shabbat morning. In view of this (excuse the pun), could we have recited Kiddush Levana (Sanctification of the New Moon) after Shabbat last night already?
Lev
Dear Lev
Thank you for your question. The answer is no, Kiddush Levanah must wait for enough of the moon to be visible so as to cast some meaningful light. Although the slenderest crescent of the moon would have been visible after Shabbat, kiddush levanah must wait for 72 hours minimum after the molad. Some (possibly for kabbalistic reasons) wait for 7 days. The recommended approach is the former. A further, related, question is whether to recite kiddush levanah at the first opportunity or to wait for the preferred ideal time, which is on Motzai Shabbat (when we are in good spirits after the “day of delight”). IMO this judgement depends on the night of the week and how many days of the month have already elapsed (as the moon may be obscured by clouds for days or nights at a time). Also ,the time of the year and the anticipated weather patterns. This is not necessarily an exact science.
Shavuah tov, and as a certain American radio host used to say, “keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars”
Rabbi Rashi Simon