Rosh Chodesh Tishri: Yom Teruah

Karaite Korner Newsletter #416
New Moon Report
September 2009
Seventh Biblical Month
On Sunday September 20, 2009 the new moon was sighted by observers across Israel. The moon was sighted:
*from Kefar Tavor by Chad and Barbara Peterson and by Dan and Yvonne Olivier at 18:42.
*from Beersheva by Yaron Laluz at 18:51.
*from Ramle by Avi Yefet and Mordechai Chayina at [...]

Rosh Chodesh Elul and the Season of Repentance

Two emails have been received concerning the sighting of the New Moon in Jerusalem for Rosh Chodesh Elul:
Karaite Korner Newsletter #408
New Moon Report
Sixth Biblical Month
Part 1
On Friday August 21, 2009 observers looked for the moon from Jerusalem but did not sight it. Visibility was uncertain this evening. Further sighting reports will be posted as they [...]

Israel pressing ahead with biometric IDs.

The only real obstacle is apparently religious modesty requirements.
From:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3752641,00.html
“The biometric database bill, which passed its first Knesset reading in October, suggests the use of smart IDs and passports, based on fingerprints and visual scans in order to prevent forgery of state documents.”
and

“Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi) asked the Knesset’s Science and Technology Committee [...]