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How do we calculate the Jewish calendar?
As opposed to the Gregorian calendar, the Jewish calendar is calculated according to the moon. Approximately every 29 days (to be exact, 29 ½ days), the moon completes her monthly cycle around the earth. During this cycle, the visible to us bright side grows and then diminishes, until it is not visible at all. The night the moon becomes visible again, is the beginning of the New Month, Rosh Chodesh.
In the times of the Temple, Rosh Chodesh was announced every month when two witnesses came and testified that they saw the new moon. Nowadays, the calendar is already fixed and there is no need (nor the possibility) to proclaim the new month.
Nevertheless, there is a custom, on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Chodesh (such as this Shabbat), to bless the upcoming month and announce when it will start, as a remembrance for the proclamation during the times of the Temple. This Shabbat is called Shabbat Mevarchim ("The Shabbat when we bless"), and we recite the following:
This Shabbat, 27 Cheshvan 5781 (14/11/20), we will announce the New Month of Kislev, on Tuesday 1 Kislev (Tuesday 17//11/20)
May He who performed miracles for our fathers and redeemed them from slavery to freedom, speedily redeem us and gather our dispersed people from the four corners of the earth, uniting all of Israel, and let us say, Amen. (Amen)
Rosh Chodesh (name of month, for instance this Shabbat, Kislev) will be on (day(s) of week, for instance this Shabbat, Tuesday), which come(s) to us for good.
May the Holy One, blessed be He, renew it for us and for all His people, the house of Israel, for life and peace (Amen), for gladness and for joy (Amen), for deliverance and for consolation, and let us say, Amen. (Amen)
This Shabbat, 27 Cheshvan 5781 (14/11/20), we will announce the New Month of Kislev, on Tuesday 1 Kislev (Tuesday 17//11/20)
If you wish to read more about the Jewish calendar, click here.
