From the Rav’s Desk: Which direction is one to face by Kiddush Levana?

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  1. Question: [Sunday, 7th 5783]

Which direction is one to face by Kiddush Levana? I always thought that one is to face the moon and my friend told me last night to face Mizrach. Which is correct?

Answer:

One is to face Jerusalem [i.e. Mizrach in USA] upon saying Kiddush Levana, rather than facing the moon. Nevertheless, it is evident from the Poskim that many were accustomed to face the moon. The Rebbe always faced East upon saying Kiddush Levana.

Explanation: The Shulchan Aruch, and classic Poskim, make no mention of which direction one is to face while reciting Kiddush Levana. Accordingly, some people would face the moon being that after all we are sanctifying the new moon and Halacha states that one is to look at the moon prior to starting a blessing. However, others would specifically not face the moon in order so it does not look like that they are praying to the moon. Rather, they would face towards Jerusalem just like they do when they pray. Practically, most Poskim who discuss this question write that one should face towards east just like he does by prayer. [Each country is to face Jerusalem in his direction; thus some countries face east and some west.]

 

Sources: See Yesod Veshoresh Havoda Shaar 9:1; Levushei Mordechai Tinyana 117 in name of Birchas Habayis; Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:202; Rivivos Efraim 6:426; Siddur Eshkol; Siddur Otzer Hatefilos; Betzel Hachochmah 3:64; Ishei Yisrael 40:29; Likkut Dinei Rosh Chodesh 12 footnote 68; Maaseh Melech p. 156

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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