African light on the New Moon ceremony

Abstract

The endeavour to juxtapose the manners and customs of these two communities (African and early Israel), illuminates the understanding of the practices and rituals of both sides, and it stimulates new questions to be asked about Israel (and Judaism). These kinds of questions cannot be asked of ancient Israel any more and the idea is not to attend to all these questions in this article, but in order to obtain a better understanding of the Old Testament, to suggest that scholars could learn from Africa as a 'living source' about the practices and customs such as sacrifices, festivals, and social structures (especially if they have some connection with ancient Israel). Studying African groups suggests new ways of answering these questions. Some of the Biblical, Mesopotamian and Talmudic textual sources for the Rosh Hodesh (New Moon Festival) and the Sabbath, as well as contemporary Orthodox and African (Lemba) rituals are being reviewed. Some attention is being paid to the changing understanding of the relationship between humans, God and nature. Research into the interpretation of the Sabbath and the possibility that the Sabbath is in some way connected to the custom of the moon cult of the Babylonians and the Canaanites, is strengthened by the same idea which occurs amongst the Lemba (and other groups in Africa) when celebrating the New Moon Festival. A more intensive investigation could yield interesting possibilities and a greater understanding of the Sabbath, early lunar calendars and the system of the sighting of the new moon.