Shalom rabbi hope all is well with you
In reference to daf B. I have 2 questions:
1) after the bet hamikdash was destroyed in the time of rabbi Akiva how was the new month set? Was it still in yerushalayim by Edim? If so when did that stop and move Tova the calendar?
2) how did the people in diaspora know when Purim was? If the edim couldn't get there in time for pesach so they also could not get there in time for Purim.
Aaron Hai Shemtob
1) The Ramban writes (in his emendations to the Rambam's Sefer ha'Mitzvos, Mitzvos Aseh #153) that it is known from several passages in the Gemara that the new month was established by the Beis Din in Yerushalayim based on witnesses' testimony of the new moon until close to the time of the completion of the Talmud (which was towards the end of the 5th century of the common era). The Chazon Ish (Orach Chayim 130:1) proves that in the time of Rava (280-355 of the common era) they still established Rosh Chodesh based on the witnesses. It seems that this stopped only around the 5th century.
2) The Taz (Orach Chayim 688:5) writes that Puirm is different from other festivals. This is because even if in reality Purim falls on the 15th of Adar, if one reads the Megilah on the 14th of Adar one has fulfilled the Mitzvah, as the first Mishnah in Maseches Megilah states that sometimes one may even read the Megilah on the 11th, 12th, or 13th. Therefore, in the Diaspora, they read the Megilah on what they believed was the 14th, which is always sufficient.
Kol Tuv,
Dovid Bloom
Thank you Followup question to kiddish hachodesh: What are the requirements to be Mekadesh Hodesh by edim?
1) The Rambam (Hilchos Kidush ha'Chodesh 5:1) writes that this can be done only by the Sanhedrin (or by a Beis Din authorized by the Sanhedrin) in Eretz Yisrael.
2) The witnesses must see the moon directly. The Rambam (2:5) writes that if they see it through the clouds, or through a glass window, or if they see its reflection in water, this is not sufficient.
3) The Beis Din asks the witnesses a series of questions to ensure that their testimony is reliable.
Hatzlachah Rabah,
Dovid Bloom
I checked the Taz in 688:5 he talks about Paruz Ben Yomo not this subject. Can I get a check please on the source?
Also, if it can be done only by bet din authorized or Sanhedrin in Eretz Yisrael how was it don till 5 th century when the Jews were out of Israel.
1) I should have written Taz in 688:4. My apologies.
2) The Rambam (Hilchos Kidush ha'Chodesh 1:8) writes that if a great Sage received Semichah in Eretz Yisrael and then left to Chutz la'Aretz and did not leave behind anyone of his caliber in Eretz Yisrael, he may conduct Kidush ha'Chodesh outside Eretz Yisrael.
Yasher Koach,
Dovid Bloom