Latest time for kiddush levanah

Hi,

Kiddush Levanah may be recited as long as the moon is in its growing phase - for 15 24-hour periods after the molad [the ceremonial time when the moon's new phase is said to begin].

(Mishneh Berurah 426:17-18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Earliest time for kiddush levanah

Hi,

Kiddush Levanah is meant to be recited at the point in the month when the moon's growth is clear.

There is some debate as to how long one must wait before this point is reached, but the consensus is that one may recite Kiddush Levanah after 72 hours from the time of the molad (the ceremonial point at which we consider the moon to have begun its new cycle).

(Mishneh Berurah 426:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dancing at Kiddush Levanah, Part II

Hi,

We have already discussed one type of dancing which takes place during Kiddush Levanah.

Additionally, we dance after kiddush levanah in the style of a wedding dance, because the blessing's call for the renewal of the Jewish people, and their reunion, like a wedding, with Gd.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 426:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush Levanah and the Davidic Dynasty

Hi,

As part of Kiddush Levanah, we recite, "David, King of Israel, is alive." This may be because the Davidic dynasty will be renewed, as the moon is renewed.

Perhaps related: The Talmud (Rosh haShanah 25a) records a situation in which a code message, "David, King of Israel, is alive," was used to convey news that the new month had been declared. Rashi there notes that King David is compared to the moon.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 426:2; Biur Halachah Orach Chaim 426 ונוהגין)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"One who performs truth, whose deeds are true"

Hi,

The berachah of Kiddush Levanah includes praise of "פועל אמת שפעולתו אמת, One who performs truth, whose deeds are true." The Avudraham offers two explanations for this passage:

1. It refers to Gd, and His deeds are true in that they are enduring. Alternatively, the "true deed" is the decision to shrink the moon from its original status as one of "two great luminaries" to "the minor luminary" (Bereishit 1:16).

2. It should read "פועלי אמת, performers of truth," and refer to the luminaries Gd created, who perform exactly what Gd instructs them to do, without variation.

(Avudraham, Birchat haRe'iyyah, haShevach v'haHodaah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dancing at Kiddush Levanah

Hi,

There is a practice of dancing during (and after) kiddush levanah, and reciting the phrase, "Just as I dance opposite you [the Moon] and I cannot touch you, so my enemies should be unable to touch me, to harm me."

According to Avudraham, the term "dancing" is not specifically about joyous dance, but movement, and aggressive moment in particular. As he puts it, "So, too, if others dance against me to harm me, they should be unable to touch me."

(Avudraham, Birchat Re'iyyah, Shevach v'Hodaah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Baruch Yotzreich,Baruch Oseich, Baruch Koneich...

Hi,

During Kiddush Levanah we address the moon and say, "ברוך יוצרך, ברוך עושך, ברוך קונך, ברוך בוראך," which are all forms of blessing the moon's creator. This comes from Masechet Sofrim, Chapter 19. Avudraham explains that these words are used because the acronym of the titles used for Gd is יעקב [Jacob].

(Avudraham, Birchat haRe'iyyah, haShevach v'haHodaah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai