Dear Readers,

 

As you are all aware the calculations in Signs of the End seemed to point to Rosh Hashanah (Tishri 1) 2006, which was September 23rd. This is the date selected by a calendar process that has been in effect for a long time. One reader suggested that this may be off a few days since the actual sighting of the new moon would not be possible from Israel until the eve of September 24th. This puts the sighting at the end of the observed Rosh Hashanah from sundown September 22nd to sundown September 24th. This sighting of the moon should occur after sundown, which will be at 6:33pm local Jerusalem time (11:33am Eastern / 8:33am Pacific, Sunday September 24th). So keep looking up, it may not be over yet! It may be an interesting day at church.

 

On another note, all the calculations in the book were done using the Jewish Calendar, which is a perpetual mathematical model. Actual moon sightings may vary a day or two or not at all, so this may be an added consideration for those examining the book in its later dates. In the end it should average back to the mathematical model. The mathematical model cannot take into account all of the variations unique to a month.

 

Below is the moon observations from Jerusalem on September 23rd.

 

I hope you accept my apology for what can be a trying ride. Hopefully this is the solution and it would seem to be such. On another note the sign of the Son of Man will also be duplicated on the 24/25th and was not as such on September 22/23rd. It is the sign for labor--tribulation (Revelation 12:1-2).

 

Awaiting His Return,

Daniel Matson

 

 

 

Karaite Korner Newsletter #276

New Moon Report
September 2006
Seventh Biblical Month
Part 1

On Saturday September 23, 2006 observers looked for the moon from Israel but it
was not sighted. Based on scientific prediction criteria visibility was
considered impossible but a number of observers attempted to sight the moon
anyway. As expected the moon was not sighted from Israel. We will look again
tomorrow night (September 24). However, even if the moon is not spotted tomorrow
night (for example, due to clouds) it will still be New Moon day by default
since it is the 31st day from the previous sighting (and a lunar month cannot be
longer than 30 days).

For a list of holiday dates please see:
http://www.karaite-korner.org/holiday_dates.shtml

For more information on Yom Teruah, please visit:
http://www.karaite-korner.org/yom_teruah.shtml

Please note there is a possibility the moon will be visible on Saturday night
from the southern hemisphere, especially from South America and possibly from
parts of Africa. However, it will not be visible in the Land of Israel until
tomorrow night (Sep 24).

Yom Teruah Sameach!
(Happy Yom Teruah!)

Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel