he Kabbalists the blessings upon the moon are
not to be said till seven full days after her birth, but, according to
later authorities, this may be done after three days. The reason for not
performing this monthly service under a roof, but in the open air, is
because it is considered as a reception of the presence of the
Shechinah, and it would not be respectful so to do anywhere but in the
open air. It depends very much upon circumstances when and where the new
moon is to be consecrated, and also upon one's own predisposition, for
authorities differ. We will close these remarks with the conclusion of
the Kitzur Sh'lu on the subject, which, at p. 72, col. 2, runs thus:--

"When about to sanctify the new moon, one should straighten his feet (as
at the Shemonah-esreh) and give one glance at the moon before he begins
to repeat the ritual blessing, and having commenced it he should not
look at her at all. Thus should he begin--'In the united name of the
Holy and Blessed One and His Shechinah, through that Hidden and
Concealed One! and in the name of all Israel!' Then he is to proceed
with the 'Form of Prayer for the New Moon;' word for word, without
haste, but with solemn deliberation, and when he repeats--

"'Blessed is thy Former, blessed is thy Maker, blessed is thy
Possessor, blessed is thy Creator.'

"He is to meditate on the initials of the four divine epithets which
form 'Jacob,' for the moon, which is called 'the lesser light,' is his
emblem or symbol, and he is also called 'little' (see Amos vii. 2). This
he is to repeat three times. He is to skip three times while repeating
thrice the following sentence, and after repeating three times forward
and backward: thus (forward)--'Fear and dread shall fall upon them by
the greatness of Thine arm; they shall be as still as a stone;' thus
(backward)--'Still as a stone may they be; by the greatness of Thine arm
may fear and dread fall on them;' he then is to say to his neighbor
three times, 'Peace be unto you,' and the neighbor is to respond three
times, 'Unto you be peace.' Then he is to say three times (very loudly),
'David, the king of Israel, liveth and existeth!' and finally, he is to
say three times--

"'May a good omen and good luck be upon us and upon all Israel!
Amen.'"

RABBINICAL ANA

It was said of Rabbi Tarphon, that though a very wealthy man, he was not
charitable according to his means. One time Rabbi Akiba said to him.
"Shall I