Based on the reports we have received, the new moon was not seen in Israel on July 9th, 2013. Due the fact that the moon set 34 mins after sunset it was not expected to be seen. Roy Hoffman reported sighting the moon through binoculars but was unable to see it with the naked eye. This confirms that the moon was not visable from Israel with the naked eye.

The fifth Biblical mmonth will be at sunset July 10th by default.

Dev "the Kultured Karaite" Daniel -
reporting for Nehemia Gordon who is somewhere galloping across Texas