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Nominator:Dovidroth (talk ·contribs)08:15, 24 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Reviewer:MasterfulNerd (talk·contribs)17:09, 17 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@GordonGlottal: I'm starting chronologically, with the origin of Jewish interaction with the moon. I found this key context from the sources (mostly Arian, Lau, and the Dvar Torah from Weinberg) that I think would go well in the development section, what are your thoughts? If I've mistranslated anything, please let me know. If I have gotten something very wrong and I am terribly mistaken please also let me know. I haven't had to read Hebrew since I was 13 haha.

According to Arian, the foundational concept for the ritual is the first practical mitzvah given to the Jewish people, the command of Kiddush HaChodesh: "This month shall be for you..." (Exod 12:2). The mitzvah places the determination of time in the hands of Bnei Yisrael, signifying the essence of freedom from slavery. The shift from counting years from Creation (Tishri) to counting from the Exodus (Nissan) represents a fundamental shift that places man in the framework of history as an active and creative agent (a "subject"), free from the enslavement of nature.

It was from this Mitzvah, that Chazal sages earned that the calendar is fixed by the moon and not by the sun. In the Book of Exodus, God showed Moses a vision of the new moon and commanded him to sanctify a new month upon its renewal, requiring the sighting of the new crescent. The tradition was given to Moses and Aaron and, in their stead, to the highest judicial authority in Israel (I'm assuming this is the Sanhedrin?), placing the establishment of the months in the court's hands.

Do you think the above context should be included in the article? Obviously not in this exact formatting, but the raw information.MasterfulNerd (talk)22:35, 20 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The current draft says thatKiddush levana is generally understood to have resulted from the special importance provided to the moon by the rituals associated with declaring a new calendar month, which date back at least to the Second Temple period. Some scholars say that Kiddush levana evolved under their influence, while others say it was intended to replace these rituals, abandoned after the Hebrew calendar was fixed in the 4th century. I'm leery of implying a specific relationship between Biblical commandments and Kiddush levana. The job of rabbis like Lau and Weinberg is to thread the needle of tradition through these sources, but history isn't so neat.GordonGlottal (talk)00:19, 21 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

GA Notice
Hello, I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know I am glad to be reviewing the articleKiddush levana in which you've been a major contributor, and has been nominated forGA-status according to thecriteria. This process may take up to 7 days. Feel free tocontact me with any questions or comments you might have during this period. MasterfulNerd (talk)17:09, 17 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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