1,263. Informing the People of a Leap Year

Hilchos Kiddush HaChodesh 4:16

The Rambam says that it seems to him that the Sages’ statement about not declaring a leap year in a year of famine or in a Sabbatical year refers to not declaring a leap year due to the condition of the roads or bridges, or because of similar considerations. He still considers it appropriate to declare a leap year because Passover will fall before the vernal equinox, the barley has not yet ripened or the trees have not yet blossomed.

Hilchos Kiddush HaChodesh 4:17

When the court declares a leap year, they write a letter to the residents of all the distant places informing them that a leap year has been declared and the reason for this decision. These letters were written in the name of the head of the Sanhedrin, saying, “Let it be known that my colleagues and I have agreed to add so-and-so many days to this year.” This is because it was possible to add a month of 29 days or of 30 days. The court could notify the people in the distant areas that the month would be either “full” or “deficient” but the ultimate determination depended on witnesses seeing the moon.