Why Look for the New Moon?

Modern Calendar Completely Out of Touch

Our present Gregorian worldly calendar with 12 months of 30, or 31 days each, is not the calendar of the Bible. The Gregorian calendar, adopted by all Catholic countries in 1582, is a sun-based calendar. It pays no attention to the new moons as marking the beginning of the months, although the word month is based on the word moon (from Old Saxon manoth, meaning of the moon), i.e., the phases of the moon. The Hebrew word khodesh, or chodesh (No. 2320 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance), is translated either “month” or “new moon.” Chodesh is from No. 2318, chadash, a prime root meaning to be new; cause to build, and is translated renew or repair. The sense or meaning of chodesh must be determined from its usage in the sentence in the Bible (not to be confused with the Hebrew word, Qodesh, #6942, which means “holy,” “consecrated,” or “set-apart”). The new moon appears every 29½ days, which means the new moon month is either 29 or 30 days in length. The Gregorian calendar divides the year into 12 months of 30 days each, and adds a day to every other month to make the year of 365 ¼ days, with a day added every four years (leap year) for the accumulated extra ¼ days. The actual new moons thus do not begin the new month in our secular calendar, but are ignored and fall anywhere within the month. Some months in our Gregorian calendar have two new moons! The Biblical calendar is based on the recurring new moons, with a lunar year of 354 days. Yahweh established the “lights” in the sky to be man’s calendar. Notice; “And Elohim said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” Gen. 1:14. A difference of 11 days exists between our world’s solar calendar of 365 days and the Bible’s new moon or lunar calendar of 354 days. Because it totally disregards the new moons, the Gregorian solar calendar is unacceptable in determining Yahweh’s holy days. Anciently, and even during the time of the Messiah, the months and annual holy days were governed by the new moons. Yahweh’s Assembly in Yahshua publishes an annual calendar listing those special dates alerting us to the evenings when we should seek the visible new moons after sunset. Proper sighting of a new moon takes a little practice and occasionally is not always possible because of sky conditions.

How to Look for the New Moon

Tips on Locating the New Moon:
The almanac usually pictures a black circle to indicate the date of the new moon. The new moon day is hardly ever a guide to see the new crescent, as the moon must be 20 hours old or more at sunset. Our yearly calendar shows the evening of each month when the crescent should be visible within an hour after sunset in the western sky. On the night sighting is scheduled, one should seek a high prominence away from city lights, and look to the setting sun. From the overhead zenith, look on either side of an imaginary line toward the setting sun. On the first night the scimitar-shaped sliver of light will be fairly close to the horizon, bulging out to the right, with the horns pointing up or to the left. The moon may be visible for only a short time the first night. By the time three stars are visible, it is often too late. The sightings must be confirmed by two or three witnesses so that we can be assured of these days. This was the practice at the time of the Messiah. Those spotting the new moons report to us so we can confirm the calendar. The two critical new moons in the spring and fall determine Passover and, in the fall, the day of Trumpets. This is a major step in restoring pure worship in anticipation of Yahshua’s return and setting up His Millennial reign. We know the new moons will be observed in the Kingdom. Again they will set the dates worldwide for the observation of Yahweh’s Feast days. Everyone will be observing the new moons on the first of every month, just as Israel did in the Biblical calendar. “And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh.” Isa. 66:23. “This is the beginning of months to you.” Ex. 12:2.

from: Biblical vs. Jewish Calendar, By Yahweh’s Assembly in Yahshua