The new moon was NOT sighted tonight in the Land of Israel due to cloudy conditions.

The Ninth Biblical month will commence on Nov.5, 2013 at sunset, by default.

I spoke on the phone with Roy Hoffman in Givat Ram, Jerusalem and he was able to brielfly catch sight of it with the aid of binoculars at 4:35 pm as the clouds were increasing.

I also spoke on the phone with Aryeh Levi and he said that he nor any of the group with him at the Jaffa Gate (Old City Jerusalem) could see the new moon because of clouds.

Also, I spoke on the phone with Nehemia Gordon in China and he had heard from several others in Israel who said the moon could not be sighted because of clouds.

Thanks to everyone for their reports!

Devorah Daniel reporting for Nehemia Gordon who is now asleep in China zzzzz...