[Avodah] molad alert

[Eli Turkel]

<<at 21:54:08 +0200 Eli Turkel wrote:
> There is a debate among rishonim about the validity of the calendar of
> Hillel II.
> Did they declare in advance the kiddush of every month or do the Jews of
> EY do the kiddush today as representatives of the entire nation. RYBS
> postulates that announcing the time of the molad and our prayers are
> the re-enactment of the kiddush hachodesh by bet din in each synagogue

After meeting up here, RYGB and RYZ collaborated on a paper on the
subject of R' Saadia Gaon's calendar controversy for JO a"h. One of the
more central points of the controversy was whether the Gaon had authority
as the globally accepted gadol hador, or whether R' Aharon ben Meir had
priority as he led the qehillah within EY. That sounds like it could be
what RET is talking about.>>

No - I was referring to the Rambam (Kiddush Hachodesh 5-1)
that kiddush hachodesh depends on the Sanhedrin
and when they dont exist one relies on the cheshbon.
In halacha 5-13 he continues that the Jews in EY determine Rosh Chodesh
(see also sefer hamitzvot 153)

Ramban (hasagot on sefer hamitzvot) disagrees and says that the Sanhedrin
not longer existed from 40 years before the churban and nevetheless
witnesses were still accepted for kiddush hachodesh for many years
afterwards.
He also questions that the Jews in EY determine kiddush hachodesh and
which Jews are involved. Rather the Sanhedrin was mekadesh the months
in advance.

The chioddush of RYBS (and there is a similar piece in the Griz) that the
primary group that is mekaesh months is not the Sanhedrin but the Jewish
people. The Sanhedrin acts not as a bet din but as the representative of the
Jewish people. In later generations it is the Talmidei Chachamim in EY that
act as the represntatives of the Jewish people to mekadesh the month.
(originally appeared in Hapardes 17-11 and later in chiddushei Torah ha-Gram
ve-ha-Grid)

-- 
Eli Turkel
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