B"H

Kiddush Levana

  There is a beautiful Mitzvah each month to recite the Sanctification of the new moon. The Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar, and the new month begins around the time of the new moon. The blessing is said from the seventh of the Hebrew month until the middle of the month. In cloudy months it can be said three days earlier. This month we say the blessing until Wednesday, November 16 at 5:54 p.m. The blessing is said outside, when the moon is in full view (not obscured by clouds or trees). While saying the blessing one should not stand under a tree or an awning. Because the blessing is a joyous one, it is appropriate to dress nicely. This is one of the reasons why it is preferred to say the blessing Saturday night if the sky is clear.

  It is preferable to say the blessing with a Minyan, and many communities accompany the blessing with singing and dancing. During the service, the worshippers greet each other Shalom Aleichem! Aleichem Shalom!

  The blessing has many perspectives. It is a rejoicing in the perfection of creation, which remains constant and never tires or wavers. The Jewish people are compared to the moon, and the rise of the moon after disappearance symbolizes the rise of the Jewish people over oppression.

  The moon is also compared to the dynasty of King David, and the renewing of the moon is a harbinger of the redemption. This why David Melch Yisrael Chai V'kayam (David, the King of Israel, lives and endures) is said three times during the service. The blessing is a form of expressing our yearning for Moshiach. The Rebbe has taught that through more people saying Kiddush Levana, it will hasten the coming of Moshiach. The Talmud teaches that had Hashem given this Mitzvah alone would be sufficient to form a bond with G-d.

  An interesting story once occurred with the first Chabad Rebbe, Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi. He was crossing a river on a raft and the moon became visible. Wanting to make Kiddush Levana with full concentration, he asked the owner to stop the raft. The owner refused. Miraculously, the raft stopped. The Rebbe did not make the blessing. The raft started again, and the Rebbe asked him to stop the raft so that he could pray. He refused, and the raft stopped again. When the raft moved again, the Rebbe asked him for the third time. He stopped the raft and the Rebbe made Kiddush Levana. Although he could have made the blessing while the raft stopped miraculously, he didn't want to do so. This is because Mitzvot are meant to elevate nature, and therefore must be done in natural circumstances

  The text of the entire service is in the prayer book.

  The blessing is as follows:

  Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who with his utterance created the heavens, and with the breath of His mouth all of their hosts. He gave them a set law and time, so that they should not alter their task. They are glad and rejoice to carry out the will of their creator, the Performer of truth whose work is truth. And He directed the moon to renew itself as a crown of glory to those borne [by Him] from the womb, who will similarly be renewed and glorify their Creator for the sake of the Glory of His Kingdom. Blessed are You L-rd, who renews the months.

  May we speedily see the moon illuminate as does the sun with the coming of Moshiach!

  Chodesh Tov,

Rabbi Biggs