[Avodah] Leap Years before matan Torah?

[Zev Sero]

On 25/10/21 5:34 pm, Micha Berger wrote:
> On Thu, Oct 21, 2021 at 05:33:29PM -0400, Zev Sero via Avodah wrote:
>> A more sophisticated answer might be that since we have a rule that when
>> there is no sanhedrin we use a formula, that rule applied not only when the
>> Sanhedrin ceased to function during Galus Bavel and again in the 4th century
>> CE, but also before there was a Sanhedrin in the first place.

> Rabbeinu Bechayei (Chumash, not CV) quotes and agrees with
> Rabbeinu Chananel that even when there is a Sanhedrin, they used a
> formula. Leshitasam, the role of eidim was formal / procedural, and not
> the cause of the new month.

Yes, but that's a daas yachid.  The mainstream view is that they had the 
formula but it was only to be used in emergencies.  They used it in 
Bavel, but stopped when they returned, and resumed in the mid-4th 
century CE.  According to that view there's no reason to suppose the 
formula was not the same one we have, with the possible exception of the 
"Lo ADU Rosh" dechiya.


-- 
Zev Sero            Wishing everyone health, wealth, and
zev at sero.name       happiness in 5782