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The Sanhedrin originally determined the new moon by actually observing the FIRST
FAINT CRESCENT (or young moon) in the western sky (Postponements: Another Mys-
tery of the Ages).

"Hodesh" (New Moon) is derived from the Hebrew root H.D.SH. -- meaning "new" or "to
make new/renew." The New Moon Crescent is called Hodesh because it is the first time the moon
is seen anew after being hidden for several days at the end of the lunar cycle. At the end of the lu-
nar month the moon is close to the sun and eventually reaches the point of "conjunction" when it
passes between the sun and the earth. As a result of this, very little of the moon's illuminated sur-
face faces the earth at the time of the conjunction, and it is not visible through the infinitely brighter
glare of the sun. After the moon moves past the sun it continues on towards the opposite side of the
earth. As it travels farther away from the sun the percentage of its illuminated surface facing the
earth increases, and one evening -- shortly after sunset -- the moon is seen anew after being invisi-
ble for 1.5 to 3.5 days. Since the moon is seen anew after a period of invisibility the ancients
called it a "New Moon" or "Hodesh" (from Hadesh meaning "new").

Clearly, then, the determination of the new moon day and the start of the month by the new
moon crescent is that approved and actually kept by Christ Himself. NOWHERE DOES THE BI-
BLE AUTHORIZE US TO DO OTHERWISE! And where should the new moons be observed? In
Jerusalem! Jerusalem is where God placed His name, and is where YEHOVAH God and Christ
will return to and set up the Government of God -- ruling and disseminating God's Law from the
newly built Temple! This is the only place the new moons are to be determined -- not locally in
whatever part of the world you live.

Crescent vs. Astronomical New Moon

Unfortunately, many people have been led astray by an inaccurate understanding of the term
"New Moon." Modern astronomers adopted this term -- which had always referred to the first
visible sliver -- and used it to refer to the conjunction when the moon passes between the earth
and the sun. This is the time when the moon is not visible. The astronomers soon realized that the
inaccurate use of the term "New Moon" to refer to the conjunction would lead to confusion. To be
more accurate, scientists now distinguish between the "Astronomical New Moon" and the "Cres-
cent New Moon." As used by the astronomers, the "Astronomical New Moon" means the conjunc-
tion. In contrast, the "Crescent New Moon" means the first visible sliver. The Random House
Dictionary of the English Language (Unabridged Edition) defines the New Moon as: "The moon
either when in conjunction with the sun or soon after being either invisible [Astronomical New
Moon] or visible [Crescent New Moon] only as a slender crescent."

The "Concealed Moon" Theory

Some people have been confused by the use of the term "New Moon" in modern astronomy
and have sought Biblical support for this incorrect meaning of the term. They usually cite Psalm
81:3, which says:

Blow on a horn for the Hodesh (New Moon)
On the Keseh (Full Moon) for the Day of our Hag (Feast).
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