Now that the final night had arrived, he realized that he was about to lose this month’s Kiddush Levanah

The long nights of Teves, those leilei Teves ha’aruchos, are the paradigm of a long tunnel of darkness, used metaphorically to describe the seemingly endless galus. And while the stars’ sparkle and the moon’s glow bring pinpricks of light to the black sky, even that isn’t certain. Winter clouds will often accumulate, eclipsing these remaining vestiges of light with their looming presence.

The abject darkness is not only scary, it also presents a practical problem. The moon’s visibility is a halachic prerequisite for the once-a-month mitzvah of Kiddush Levanah. When the moon’s light is veiled by a mantle of clouds, the cherished brachah cannot be recited.

Last week, a Yid in Monsey, New York found himself facing exactly this problem. Kiddush Levanah can only be recited during the first half of the month, and this fellow hadn’t found the opportunity to say it during the rare moments when the sky was clear. Now that the final night had arrived, he realized that he was about to lose this month’s Kiddush Levanah.

Unwilling to let that happen, he made a dash for his car and began driving northbound on Route 17, toward Exit 110, which leads to the Catskills. He pulled off the exit and looked upward. Moon! He leaped out of his car and began whispering “Baruch Atah Hashem… asher b’maamaro bara shechokim…” But his hushed tones were interrupted by the sound of an engine. A car pulled up behind his, and another frum Yid emerged, siddur in hand and began chanting the brachah. Soon another car pulled up, then another, and then another.

Within a few short minutes, some 20 Jews stood beneath a starry sky, the moon boldly emerging from the shadows, and together they murmured the text of the age-old blessing. “Chok u’zman nasan lahem shelo yishanu es tafkidam — a fixed structure and time the Almighty gave to them so they do not alter their destiny. Sasim u’smeichim la’asos retzon Konam — they are joyful and happy to do the will of their Creator.”

Someone produced a bottle of whiskey and a package of cake. L’chayims were shared, and the newly formed chevreh danced in a joyous circle.

Sasim u’smeichim la’asos retzon Konam….

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 944)