Juma Mubarak! | The Revival

1) Am I right that the Jewish calender is lunar based (or semi-lunar based)?
2) If this is correct, then are there ever disagreements as to moon-sightings etc. which leads to celebrating holy days on different dates.
3) If not, WHY not?! Because the Muslim community could learn a thing or two.

Thank you kindly.

Re: Juma Mubarak!

Joie de Vivre — Fri, 8 Aug 2008 - 11:18

Hi. It is a lunar 12 monthly calendar that every few years contains 13 months. Accurate calculations as to the dates and full moons were made many years ago and written down, so that moon sightings are unnecessary. Every 19 years the lunar and solar calendars synchronise as a result of the extra months, hence the seasons are consistent.

There are no disputes about it that I am aware of.

Long ago, news of a moon-sighting was relayed by fire from the hilltops. Over the last millenium or so, possible discrepancies in opinion are accounted for by the rule that outside Israel the festivals are observed for one extra day, so ensuring correct adherence. Seems to work. Juma Mubarak and Shabbat Shalom. 🙂

Re: Juma Mubarak!

Courage — Fri, 8 Aug 2008 - 15:00

I feel left out, Jumma Mubarak and Shabbat Shalom!
You don't have a fasting period do you? You know like Ramadan?

Re: Juma Mubarak!

Joie de Vivre — Fri, 8 Aug 2008 - 15:31

Not like Ramadan. There are fasts for penitence and commitment, and fasts of commemoration such as Tisha b'Av for 25 hours this Sunday, commemorating a number of immense tragedies over the years bizarrely all occuring on this date. It is the end of a three week period of mourning that began with a similar fast. Most fast days are from dawn but some are like this. Some other fast days only apply to specific groups such as first-borns or the chevra kadisha ("burial committee") who attend to the recently deceased. The biggest fast day in the calendar is Yom Kippur, which is a universal day of atonement - also 25 hours - preceded by a month and 10 days of introspection, apologies and forgiveness. The day is spent entirely in prayer. Additionally one can observe individual fasts, usually by way of penitence.

There are also several festivals in the calendar, the main ones being Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and the three foot festivals (ie marking pilgrimages): Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) and Succot (Huts), each of which has its particular customs. Chanukah and Purim are also well-known festivals, but strictly not as important as they commemorate events after Moses and thus not commanded in the Torah.

I hope you didn't miss the Olympic opening ceremony just now. Awesome! I think the highly skilled dancing troupe deliberately outnumbered the population of the UK to be sure of never being trumped.

Jumah Mubarak mate.