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In 2004, a group of rabbis in Israel attempted to begin the process of re-establishing the Sanhedrin using the Rambam's method of universal consensus to re-establish the line of semikha. Rabbi Mosh...
#1: Initial revision
by
Daniel
·
2020-07-23T16:54:05Z (over 4 years ago)
Does the nascent Sanhedrin in Israel sanctify the new moon with witnesses?
In 2004, a group of rabbis in Israel attempted to begin the process of [re-establishing the Sanhedrin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_attempt_to_revive_the_Sanhedrin) using the [Rambam's method](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semikhah#Attempts_to_revive_classical_semikhah) of universal consensus to re-establish the line of semikha. [Rabbi Moshe Halberstam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Halberstam) was selected as the first musmakh and he proceeded to confer semikha on others until enough rabbis had been granted semikha to establish a Sanhedrin, which R' Adin Steinsaltz, as Nasi, referred to as the "Nascent Sanhedrin". As far as I can tell, this new Nascent Sanhedrin is still active; albeit quietly. Rambam, whose opinion was relied upon to re-establish semikha, also holds that whenever a Sanhedrin exists, new months must be established through testimony ([Hilkhos Kiddush HaChodesh 5:2](https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Sanctification_of_the_New_Month.5.2?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en)). Does this new Sanhedrin sanctify the new month through witnesses? Is there any record of this happening?