10 Responses

1. FOR THOSE THAT ARE WONDERING, RAV ELYASHIV IS MAKPID TO SAY KIDDUSH LEVANA BEFORE YOM KIPPUR AS THE VILNA GAON DID (AYIN MASH RAV).

2. Very interesting. There are different sheetos as to whether it should be said before or after Yom Kippur.

3. The reasoning behind it is: mitzvah haba l’yadcha al tachmitzena. Do not postpone a miaat you have the opportunity to do.

   Also, it is an additional zechus before the yom hadin.

4. To try to get every last mitzvah in before yom kippur.

5. Ailu, v’ailu, divrei Elokim Chayyim.

6. In the Vilna region of the hemisphere, this time of the year, the moon drops out of sight very early in the evening. The Vilna Gaon ZT”L was makpid to say it before Yom Kippur so that he would be sure to make it. If he would wait a few days longer, the moon may drop out to early to catch it on Motzo’ey Yom Kippur.

7. Yatzmich
   from the poskim it is clear that the reason is to acquire another zechus before yom kippur, and also because of mitzvah haboh leyadcha, look at the Aruch Hashulchan in Hilchos Tisha Be’av where he also brings the minhag where he was Rov (Nevardak) like the Gaon to say kiddush levanah before tisha beav and he brings the reason because the few days remaimimg after tisha beav might be cloudy where by one can not fulfill the mitzvah, that reason is applicabale to our HEMISPHERE too.
   Everyone should follow his mesorah, but at the same time know the reason of those that differ.

   Sammygol
   three days from the molad that is

8. By the way, does anyone know what day of Chol Hamoed is the special Birchas Kohanim at the Kosel? Thank you.

9. Thanks sammy & grump for the info. It was just something I heard years ago when learning in Eretz Yisroel & I may have not repeated it properly. In any case, I digress.

10. Here in Moscow I said Kidush Levana last night, for certain circumstances withheld me from saying it Motzai Yom Kippur. We had a nice clear moon, not near the horizon, Baruch Hashem. However I’d guess that sometimes one may be apprehensive about cloud cover. Gut Yom Tov, A Gutten Chodesh!