Become A New Moon Observer
For most folks who live in the northern hemisphere the new moon will look like the picture above. If you have never seen it, here is a great opportunity for you if the night is clear.
It is often very faint and usually sets within 5 to 45 min after the setting of the sun. The new moon is rarely seen by accident; but just like the kingdom and Yehovah Himself – those who search for it do find it, and Him also. I was almost fifty years old before I looked for and spotted my first new moon. So get out your shofar and be ready for a real treat.
Then God (Elohim) commanded, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and to show the time when days, years, and religious festivals begin; they will shine in the sky to give light to the earth” and it was done. So Elohim made the two larger lights, the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule over the night; He also made the stars. (Gen 1:14-16)
The moon is the lesser light that was put in the heavens for us to find the beginning of months and thus Yehovah’s feast days. The sighting of the first sliver of the new moon marks the beginning of each month for True Israel. We can not know when the 1st day, 10th day, 14th day, 15th day is without the moon.
Yehovah’s days begin and end at sunset, and the 1st day of the month is declared with the sighting of the new moon after sunset from Israel. Here is a great link concerning the sighting of the crescent moon each month. And yet another link which has expected dates for new moons and feast days. Please note: The “Jewish Calendar” does not use the sighted moon from Israel but instead uses the calculated / convergent new moon. Please click this link for a discussion on lunar phases. As a result, Judaism celebrates their feasts at least one day earlier than Yehovah and His people do. The sun and the moon were created to keep His people in sync with Him. Remember “The faithful servant will be watching when the master returns.”
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. (Luke 12:37)