The Two Sundays of Shavuot: The 2018 Karaite Calendar Un-Crisis

“Sigh. Even when we’re right, we can’t even agree how to be right.” That was my initial reaction when confronted with the reality that this year well-meaning Karaites will be split regarding the date to celebrate Shavuot.

Since then, I realized that this is exactly what we need to unify the movement. Bear with me. . .

Let me give you some background. If the Karaites had a poster child in the Rabbanite v. Karaite debate it would undoubtedly be the timing of Shavuot.

As I’ve chronicled several times over (see here and here) and as Tomer Mangoubi explained in his Mikdash Me’at and as Nehemia Gordon explained in the Truth about Shavuot, Karaites start counting the omer (i.e., the 50 days that lead up to Shavuot) on the Sunday morning that falls out during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (i.e., Hag Hamatzot or “Passover”). In contrast, the Rabbanites start counting the omer on the evening of the second night of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

If you’re still with me, I need to give you another piece of background. For better or worse, the Karaite Jews of America currently follows the Rabbanite calendar in everything except for the timing of Shavuot (EDITOR’S UPDATE: and Purim). For example, if Passover starts on a Monday night according to the Rabbinic Calendar, the KJA will observe Passover on a monday night; but whereas the Rabbanites will start counting the omer on Tuesday night, the KJA will start counting the omer on Sunday a few days later.

So what does this all have to do with Shavuot 2018?

Well, it just so happens that this year the “Rabbanite” date for Passover is on Friday night March 30 and the KJA is using this date for its holiday; this means that the Karaite Jews of America will (likely) start counting the omer on April 1, 2018.

But based on the New Moon sighting (both in Israel and in the U.S.) Passover *should be* on Sunday night April 1, and the Karaites in Israel (and Karaites in the U.S. who celebrate according to either the local or Israeli moon) will start counting the Omer on Sunday April 8.

This means that the Karaite Jews of America (if it indeed starts counting the omer on the Sunday during the holiday of Passover) would celebrate Shavuot on May 20th, a week before the rest of the Karaites in the U.S. and the Karaites in Israel, who would celebrate on May 27th. And in the greatest plot twist of all, the Karaites in the U.S. would be celebrating Shavuot on the same date as the Rabbanites (because the Rabbanites would start counting on Saturday night, and the KJA would start counting on Sunday morning).

And while this full week separation of the date of Shavuot is not a desirable result by any stretch of the imagination, I think this is actually good for the Karaite movement – because it will give us the chance to finally have constructive, positive dialogue as to how to bring all Karaite practices into a more unified movement. Note that I did not say a more “conformed” movement.

I had initially tried to plan a shabbaton inviting all Karaites everywhere to the KJA’s newly renovated headquarters for Memorial Day Weekend. But the Sunday during Memorial Day is May 27th, the date that many Karaites in the U.S. (but not likely the KJA) would be celebrating Shavuot. So, I chickened out. I didn’t want a calendar controversy. As a friend suggested to me here, it is possible that the reason why the Karaite movement lost its momentum the first time was because it could never get the calendar figured out.

But I shouldn’t have chickened out. I should have held the shabbaton and I should have held Shavuot services for those Karaites who believed it was Shavuot.

Don’t get me wrong, I continuously pray that Karaites all observe the holidays on the “correct” dates,[1] but if the Karaite movement cannot sustain this strange calendar occurrence, then there actually is no movement to sustain.

* * *

[1.] There is actually a circumstance in which even if Karaites were observing on the “correct” dates, this problem of two Sundays of Shavuot would exist. The situation occurs as follows. In the opinion of most of the historical Karaite sages, the local new moon (not the moon in Israel) is what dictates the start of the month. Because the moon becomes more visible as you move westward along the same latitude, it is conceivable that the new moon would be seen in the U.S. (and especially in Daly City) before it is is seen in Israel. Two Sundays of Shavuot would be the “correct” practice when, for example, this variation in the sighting of the moon happens result in the start of the Feast of Unleavened Bread on a Saturday night in the U.S. and a Sunday night in Israel.

 

13 Comments

Filed under Nehemia Gordon, New Moon, Passover, Shavuot, Tomer Mangoubi

13 Responses to The Two Sundays of Shavuot: The 2018 Karaite Calendar Un-Crisis

  1. Nikola

    Shalom,
    First of all, thank you for all your efforts. Indeed, the survival of Karaite movement is something that is very important and valuable in today’s world. I would say that Karaite movement is more approachable for Gentiles as well, and as such is invaluable in establishing true word of God.
    I do have a question regarding the calendar. What is the primary reason for adopting Rabbinic dates? I would assume it’s the “convenience” and desire to avoid confusion and conflict, but would appreciate more elaborate explanation.

  2. Henry Mourad

    Shawn. I’m wondering if the sighting of the new moon is computational or actual sighting. I presume that it is to determine the exact full moon occurrence for Passover celebrations. If there is indeed a difference between the computational sighting in Daly City and in Israel, it makes sense that Shavuot occurrences may be different. However, there is no reason why Shavuot cannot be celebrated twice, once as the moon was observed here and another time with our brothers in Israel. The more we celebrate our holidays the better.

  3. Hakham Meir Rekhavi

    It seems to be an oxymoron Karaite Jews following the highly inaccurate Rabbanite calendar. What is the purpose of denying the Divine written word and embracing the “commandment of men learned by rote” (Isa. 29:13)? If this is so then why call one’s self a Karaite? If its to make life “easier” then why not make Sunday the day of ceasing?!

    • ilanb

      I agree with Chacham Meir. It seems a defeatist mode of belief. It demonstrates a lack of faith in the Karaitic system of knowledge to follow a that a calendar that was in constant flux till the later Geonic period. Adding a month here, subtracting there. It just proves that the Rabbis took too much authority to themselves and wanting to keep the Children Of Israel so beholden to their point of view that they crumbled under the weight of keeping score of what they said between yesterday and today and screwed up the calendar to the point they had to patchwork in Leap years and play with the New Moons.

      And of course the Pagan names of the Calendar are a bane to the nation. Anybody ever name their son Tammuz??? I betcha not. So who the hell wants it on their calendar.

  4. Ana Lopes

    I agree with Hakham Meir Rekhavi.
    We should definitely follow the calendar as ordained by God.

    • Barry

      As one who wants and is doing all i can with limited resources, to keep Torah, i am so utterly confused.
      I DO see Karaite Judaism, as the correct path for me to follow, and I am seeing “traditions of men”, thru-out Mainstream Judaism,
      a great corruption that I am attempting to avoid.

      “We should definitely follow the calendar as ordained by God”, I fully concur with you Ana.

      I am praying for financial blessings to take $2000.00 U.S. , Online Karaite course, and have a strong desire to read Nehemia Gordons books, amongst others.
      I am very poor, but if it is willed, it will be so!

      I am seeking the truth, and I only wish, that you would have here on your Blog, some kind of a daily post, that shows untrained people like me, a way to be able to participate, anticipate…the 7 Feasts.

      For example:
      1. This Feast/x… is falling soon/coming up.
      2. This Feast/x…should be…in maybe/approimately…so many days.
      3. Warning…This Feast is very close!
      4. This Feast has arrived…

      ☆ i suppose this cannot be done this way, or you or someone by now would have done it?

      ☆☆ Also, if it were possible to do something like this, a FULL DESRIPTION, showing what when where why and how, etc, could help the untrained, in teaching and preparing us.

      I feel such a huge lack of knowledge, I have no where and no one to teach/show me anything concerning Karaite Judaism.

      All I have is this Blog, and Nehemia’s Wall…

      I feel alone.

      You need to please consider those of us in
      my position who are hungry for knowledge.

      Please consider teaching those like me from a laymans perspective, but not only a layman, but a new to the Karaite layman.

      You teach as if one already has much knowledge. Like singing to the choir.
      You write as though you have others to
      support you. As if you grew up with this.
      As if you are already fully trained. As if you have a Synagogue backing you up, in N.A., and Israel. I have nothing and no one.

      I feel ridiculous writing this to you,
      but I am seeking your help.

      Where do I start?
      I seek NO THING “main stream”!
      I know enough that I do not to learn much from the main stream, until I am solid with Karaite, FIRST.
      A SOLID GROUNDING AND UNDERSTANDING.

      Please consider my words.

      Barry

      • Cheryl Simani

        Barry,
        I was very touched by you post. Did anyone ever answer your questions?
        Michal

      • Elisheva

        Barry, I too feel the strong desire to do as truely commanded to HIS people. I love the ideas you have listed/suggested. I am sooooo hungry to learn and do. Are you able to begin some of what you have suggested. We thirsty, hungry beginners are dying out here, please please someone create an accessible page for us.

        Someone please answer. Thank you 🙂

      • Elisheva

        Barry, I too feel alone in searching for the info in following HIS commands for us. I feel a strong connection to the truth of Karaite teachings. I have tried to learn on my own but the info needs to be implemented in the manner you suggested. I am soooo hungry and thirsty for doing HIS word as HE intended. I think there are many of us out here who too are hungry and thirsty for proper knowledge. Your suggestions are great, have you thought of beginning such an endeavor for us.
        Pleace can someone begin some of what Barry has suggested?
        Thank you:)

  5. Anonymous

    Per Hakham Meir Rekhavi: “If its to make life “easier” then why not make Sunday the day of ceasing?!”

    Made it be forbidden to follow the mark of the beast! Too many are already bending to the power of the antichrist as we speak including many in Israel who have agreed to close on Sunday (though there is no command by our Creator to do so). May Shabbat always be remembered (REMEMBER THE SABBATH, TO KEEP IT HOLY)!

  6. Cheryl Simani

    Thank you for posting this article. It has been very helpful for my research.
    The syzugy, true conjunction of the Sun and Moon, before 1 Nisan occurred on 17 March at 11:12 in Yerushalem and sunset on that day began at 5:48 PM. Therefore, eight hours passed from the syzugy until and sunset. Sunrise in Yerushalem was at 5:46 AM on March 18. Thus, twenty hours had passed from the syzugy until the sunrise, which is enough time for the molad, first light od the crescent moon to become visible. By conventional time, the day begins at midnight, as indicated above. However, the Jewish day is from sunset to sunset. Therefore, the first of Nisan began at 5:48 PM 17 March and ended at 5:49 PM 18 March. in 2018. Consequently, Pesaḥ began at sundown on 30 March. Simply because a date was calculated by the Rabbinites does not mean that it is inherently inaccurate.
    and sunset occurred at 5:49 PM.
    My next work, “The Jewish Gordian Knot” (Volume I of a series entitled Perplexing Puzzles of Biblical and Jewish History, will published as an e-book on Amazon’s Kindle platform within another week or so. This article will be properly sited.

  7. Ziva

    What is the year in the Karaite calendar? I was trying to follow it but then I became lost in time with the year. If it is 5778 in the .Rabbinite calendar then… Is it now 5779 or did it just become 5778? ultimately, not being able to record has led me to this strange thing of feeling like I am in a perpetual 18 month long year….

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