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Like some others, we at Beth Lechem do not follow the calendar predetermined through calculations that was set up centuries ago by Jews in forced exile. That calendar has served a valuable purpose over the centuries, because it was the closest we could come to YHWH's intended appointments in an age of poor communications among scattered exiles from the Land. But now that there are those back in the Land of Israel able to announce sightings of the New Moon there, we do not believe substitutes are needed any longer. We receive these via e-mail and we forward them to anyone who wants to receive them. (Subscribe to our news group in order to receive these announcements.)
We reckon the new moons ON THE NEXT LOCAL EVENINGS after the moon is spotted in Yerushalayim. We reckon the Moedim (Festivals) ON THE NEXT LOCAL EVENINGS after they begin in Yerushalayim, and we reckon the Shabbats ON THE NEXT LOCAL EVENINGS after they begin in Yerushalayim.
We do not consider it Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of the month) the very minute the New Moon is spotted in Yerushalayim, rather we consider it Rosh Chodesh [New Moon] when the yom (yom roughly = "day" in English and consists of erev [evening] and boqer [morning]; see Gen 1:5) arrives locally.
Everything, the New Moons, the Shabbats, and the Moedim, begin in Yerushalayim and emanate out into the rest of the world, arriving with the mixing of light and darkness, called erev in Hebrew and "dusk" in English. This makes Yerushalayim the reference for all observances.
Consider Yerushalayim: It is called "The City of the Great Elohim", "The Throne of YHWH", "The Set-Apart Mountain", "The Perfection of Beauty", "The Joy of the whole Earth".
Zech 8:3
"Thus says YHWH: `I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth (emeth), the Mountain of YHWH Tzava'ot, the Holy Mountain.'
emeth [according to Strong's Concordance #571] as a feminine noun:
- firmness, faithfulness, truth
- sureness, reliability
- stability, continuance
- faithfulness, reliability
- truth
- as spoken
- used of testimony and judgment
- used of divine instruction
- truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge
- true doctrine
- as an adverb: in truth, truly
Only Yerushalayim is the City of faithfulness, reliability, continuance, true doctrine. From where, but from the City of Truth, the Throne of YHWH Tzava'ot, would a day emanate? What other place can be considered as reliable? None.
As the New Moon rises over Yerushalayim
So our renewal begins.
As the first small sliver appears in the sky,
So Israel is born again.
And the gates will be opened and the Prince will enter in
And all of the people will worship.
We will celebrate the Kingdom that will never end
As Israel is born again.
The faithful witness in the sky
Tells us the time is at hand
For us to be renewed as one people
And return to our Land...
--Yeshurun
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