1,345. The Visibility of the Moon in Lands to the East

Rabbi Jack Abramowitz

Hilchos Kiddush HaChodesh 18:14

If the moon is not visible on mountains in the lands to the west of Israel in the same latitude, then it certainly won’t be visible in Israel.

Hilchos Kiddush HaChodesh 18:15

Similarly, if the moon is not visible in Israel, it certainly won’t be visible in lands that lie to the east of Israel at the same latitude. If the moon is visible in Israel, it may or may not be visible in lands to the east. Therefore, if the moon is visible in a land to the east of Israel at the same latitude, it was certainly visible in Israel. If the moon was not visible in a land east of Israel, that’s no proof that the moon won’t be visible in Israel; it’s quite possible that the moon may still be visible in Israel.