Posted by Gary [GLamotta] on March 31, 1999 at 02:05:18 {ohFII14TUcMRXA6xmpscboLUiPtahc}:
In Reply to: Niasan 14 is not april 1, posted by nowaytess on March 29, 1999 at 08:08:43:
You bring out a good point, but at this point I think it's optional.
Of note, the WTS declares a new moon only after
about 18 hours which they claim is as soon as the
new moon would be seen.
But then there is also the problem
of location.
After all, what might be a visible new moon
in New York might not be visible in Jerusalem,
so.... The WTS will be a little later than most.
Another issue is that many are declaring the 1st
scientifically since
the new moon is predictable
scientifically.
As far as the Jews celebrating Passover a month
later, that's a new procedure. What happened
was that the Jews converted to a pre-planned
lunisolar calendar where the
intercalations
of the 19-year cycle are all set in advance.
What invariably will happen and what happened
last year was that sometimes the lunisolar
calendar will require the introduction of an
intercalary month even though
the technical
first full moon occurs AFTER the equinox, usually
only by a few days. Thus the Jews will end
up celebrating a late Passover, simply
because they are following a set calendar.
But JWs and others, who calculate
the first
technical full moon after the equinox (March 21)
and thus will be celebrating Passover with
the rest of the Christian world.
But ultimately, these "rules" for determining
the first month are arbitrary and based
upon
custom, and the Bible is not clear as to
exactly when or when not to declare the first
month or when to introduce an intercalary month.
And since Passover can be celebrated the following
month if you miss the first one,
it seems
the celebration is far more important than getting
the precise exact date correct by any theory.
So I suppose as long as its the "14th" on some
basis, it is permissible.
Anyway, that's why the Jews will be a
month
late sometimes if you were wondering. It's
optional and nobody is really wrong in this case.
Cheers,
Gary