(Mishnah): If Beis Din and all of Israel saw it (the new moon) or the witnesses were cross-examined but they were not able to declare it "Mekudash'' - "sanctified'' before nightfall, it becomes a full month.

If only the Beis Din saw it, two of them should stand and testify before them (the Beis Din) and they declare "Mekudash Mekudash''.

If three people saw it and they are the Beis Din, two should stand and seat two others next to the remaining judge and then testify before them and they declare "Mekudash Mekudash''. This is done because an individual is not believed alone (to say Mekudash).

(Gemara): The first case of the Mishnah must be understood to say that it was either Beis Din or all of Israel.

R. Zeira/ R. Imi quoting R. Yehoshua ben Levi: Beis Din may intimidate the witnesses in a month in which the moon was seen at its time (on the 30th day), in order that they refrain from testimony, thereby allowing Beis Din to declare a full month. However, in a month in which the moon was not seen at its time, Beis Din may not intimidate the witnesses to give testimony that they saw the new moon, which would thereby have allowed Beis Din to declare it to be sanctified.

R. Ba and R. Chiya quoting R''YSL: Beis Din may intimidate (the witnesses) for a moon that was not seen at its time (in order to sanctify the moon earlier) but they may not intimidate for a moon that was seen its time, in order to make it a full month.

Question on R. Zeira (Mishnah): 'If Beis Din or all of Israel saw it or the witnesses were cross-examined but they were not able to declare it "Mekudash'' before nightfall, it becomes a full month'. However, if it was before nightfall, if there are witnesses they would never (delay it and) declare it a full month that was seen at its time...?!

Question on R. Ba (Beraisa): I might have thought that if needed, they may sanctify the month two days early (on the 29th)...the Pasuk states "it'' - only one day.

Question on R. Ba (Beraisa): I might have thought that just as they declare a leap year when there is a need, so they may sanctify the new month when there is a need - the Pasuk states (Shemos 12, 2), "the month'' - they follow the actual cycle of the month; this shows that in a month in which the moon was not seen to be able to give testimony, Beis Din may not intimidate the witnesses to give testimony that they saw the new moon...?

Question on R. Ba (Beraisa): I might have thought if the moon was not seen for two days (until the 32nd day), they sanctify the moon on the 32nd day...? The Pasuk states (Vayikra 23, 2), "...them...these are...'' - these days can be sanctified as Rosh Chodesh but the 32nd day cannot be sanctified as Rosh Chodesh. It is because the moon was not seen on the 31st that they sanctify the moon without testimony - but if it was seen, they do not. This shows that in a month in which the moon was not seen to be able to give testimony, Beis Din may not intimidate the witnesses to give testimony that they saw the new moon...?

It was suggested that there is no disagreement - R. Zeira was referring to the rest of the months; R. Ba was referring to Nisan and Tishrei. (Since in these months the festivals are dependent on the new moon, we sanctify as needed.)

Rebbi: In all of his years, Nisan was never a full month.

Question (Mishnah in Shekalim): If the new moon occurred on time...This shows that there is a possibility that it would not come on time.

Rav: In all of his years, Tishrei was never a full month.

Question (Mishnah in Shekalim): If the new moon occurred on time...This shows that there is a possibility that it would not come on time.

(A Mishnah further on teaches that R. Yochanan ben Nuri says that the blessing of the Musaf prayer, Malchiyos - Kingship, should be part of the third blessing of 'Kedushas Hashem'. R. Akiva says that it should be part of the middle blessing of 'Kedushas Hayom'. The associated Beraisa teaches...) When they sanctified the new year in Usha, on the first day R. Yishmael son of R. Yochanan ben Beroka lead the prayers according to the view of R''YBN. R. Shimon ben Gamliel said - we did not do this in Yavneh.

On the second day, R. Chanina son of R. Yosi Haglili lead the prayers according to the view of R. Akiva. R''SBG said - we did this in Yavneh.

Question (Beraisa): They sanctified both the first and the second days, meaning that Elul was a full month?! (This is a question against Rav.)

Answer: What is the first and second? R. Ba quoting Rav said - the first year and the second year.

Rejection: The Beraisa teaches - the first day and the second day?!

If they sanctified it on the 29th or 32nd day, I might have thought that it is valid? The Pasuk states (Vayikra 23, 2), "...them...'' - if they occur at the proper time "...they are My festivals...'' but before (on the 29th) or after (on the 32nd) they are not My festivals.

Question: What is the source for declaring a leap year for the Jews of the Diaspora who travelled to Yerushalayim (to bring the Pesach offering) but did not yet arrive (because of the rain, in order to give them extra time to arrive)?

Answer: The Pasuk states (Vayikra 23, 2), "...the children of Israel...My festivals'' - set up My festivals so that all of Israel may observe them.

R. Shmuel bar Nachman: This applies when (Bein Din hear that) they have arrived at the Euphrates River (which is the border of the Land of Israel).

R. Yaakov bar Acha/ R. Imi quoting R. Yehudah bar Pazi: If they sanctified it and afterwards found the witnesses to be false, it remains sanctified.

Question (R. Yosa to R. Yehudah bar Pazi): Did you hear this law from your father?

Answer: Yes. He quoted from R. Yochanan that we are not particular about testimony on the new moon (to accept testimony that the first witnesses were false).

If Beis Din saw the murderer (of an anonymous body), they say, "Even if we see him, we do not recognize him'', they do not break the neck of the calf, as the Pasuk states (Devarim 21, 7), "...and our eyes did not see'' - in this case, they did see.

If Beis Din saw the murderer -

Beraisa #1: Two of them should testify before the others.

Beraisa #2: All of them should testify before another Beis Din.

R. Yudah bar Pazi quoting R. Zeirah: Just as there is a disagreement here, there is a disagreement over sanctifying the moon.

Question: Why did our Mishnah teach (see earlier 1) (c)) that when there are three people saw it and they are the Beis Din, two should stand and seat two others next to the remaining judge and then testify? Let one of them testify in front of the other two and then another one do the same!

Answer: A witness cannot become a judge.

It is like the case of Rav Chuna who knew testimony about a certain person. That person came in front of Rav Chuna and denied that he owed money to the claimant.

Rav Shmuel bar R. Yitzchak said to this person - Since you know that Rav Chuna is a great man (and he cannot testify - as a witness cannot become a judge), this is why you are denying that you owe the money. What will you do if he goes to another Beis Din to testify against you?

Rav Chuna to Rav Shmuel B''RY: Can a judge avoid judging a case in order to testify about it in another Beis Din?

Rav S''BRY replies: Yes. Rav Chuna therefore excused himself from judging the case and testified against the person in another Beis Din.

If the validity of the signatures of the witnesses or judges was put into question -

R. Ba quoting Rav Yehudah: If he wishes to validate it with the signatures of the witnesses or the judges, it is valid. And I (R. Ba) say, even if they validated one witness and one judge, it is valid.

In the days of R. Abahu, two witnesses came out of Beis Din to send the messengers to publicize the new moon. They would say a codeword to the messengers in order to show their authenticity. They were supposed to say "Go'aleinu'' and they said "Go'alteinu''. R. Abahu nevertheless accepted them.

In the days of R. Berachya, the witnesses became dumb before they could speak to the messengers. R. Berachya asked them - Did you hear from the Beis Din that they had sanctified the new moon? They nodded their heads and R. Berachya accepted them.