| Today is: Monday, Adar II 29, 5771 · April 4, 2011
• Jews Commanded 1st Mitzvah (1313 BCE)
Shortly before sundown on the 29th of Adar, G-d commanded Moses regarding the mitzvah of sanctifying the crescent new moon and establishing a lunar calendar. This is the first mitzvah the Jews were given as a nation. Moses had difficulty envisaging the moon's appearance at the exact moment of its monthly rebirth. After the sun set, G-d showed Moses the crescent new moon of the new month of Nissan, showing him the precise dimensions of the moon at the moment the new month is to be consecrated. For the generations that followed, each new month was ushered in when two witnesses testified before the Sanhedrin (rabbinic supreme court) that they had seen the molad, the new moon. In the 4th century CE, Hillel II foresaw that the Jews would no longer be able to follow a Sanhedrin-based calendar. So Hillel and his rabbinical court established the perpetual calendar which is followed today -- until Moshiach will come and reestablish the Sanhedrin. Links::
Lunar Time
Rosh Chodesh
The Molad
• Napoleon's "Sanhedrin" Dissolved (1807)
A few months after its creation, Napoleon's "Sanhedrin" (rabbinical supreme court) was dissolved. The Sanhedrin was created to approve certain religious regulations requested by the French "Assembly of Notables." The regulations were designed to blur the distinction between Jews and non-Jews. The rulings of this pseudo-Sanhedrin were never adopted by Jewish communities. Link:: Napoleon Bonoparte
Master of the Universe! The sages of the Talmud pleaded before You to bring the Moshiach, but You chose not to do so. The holy Kabbalists of Safed begged You to bring Moshiach -- again You were unwilling. We have reached the point where it is left to someone of my ilk to ask for the Redeemer. Still You are holding out.... Mark my words! There will come a generation who will have no interest in You or Your Moshiach. Then You will have no choice but to bring him..
- Chassidic master Rabbi Leib, the "Grandfather of Shpoli" (1725-1811)
Chitas and Rambam for today: | 
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