CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF ROSH CHODESH
1) It is proper to quickly gaze at the moon before beginning to recite Kiddush Levana. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 426:2)
However,
as long as the moon was visible and illuminating the night sky, even if
the person reciting the Bracha did not actually see it, rather he just
followed the lead of the other people in the congregation who were
reciting Kiddush Levana, he has satisfied his obligation. (See Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Yoreh Deah Vol. 5 Siman 125:4)
However,
if he remembers in the midst of the Bracha that he did not glance at
the moon before starting, he should take a quick look at it right when
he remembers. (See Mishna Berura Siman 426 S"K 13)
2) Before gazing at the moon during Kiddush Levana (or any time for that matter) it is worthwhile to keep the following in mind:
The Ba'al HaChareidim, one of the holy Mekubalim in the times of the Bais Yosef and the Arizal, writes (Perek 45:5), "It
is prohibited to gaze at a rainbow...It is likewise prohibited to gaze
at the moon. Rabbeinu Meir used to be extremely stringent with this...as
it is quoted in Sefer Shoshan sodos"
In the Sefer Taamei HaMinhagim (Kuntres Achron to Siman 464:22) he quotes the Sefer Shevet HaMussar that Al Pi Kabalah it is just as bad to gaze at the moon as it is to gaze at a rainbow.
In
the long Nusach, text, of Vidui from Rabbeinu Avraham, father of the
Shla HaKadosh, where he enumerates hundreds of possible sins that a
person needs to do Teshuva for, he lists as one of the sins: "Gazing at
the [new] moon"
The Mishna Berura (ibid.) writes
that by Kiddush Levana when we must look at the moon before commencing
the Bracha, according to some opinions the moon should be glanced at for
a moment and that's all, and according to others it can be looked at
for the duration of the Bracha, but it seems clear that any extra gazing
at the moon is indeed something that should be avoided at best and may
even be considered a sin!
Important Numbers
