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Is it true that the appearance of a Blood Moon is an omen in Judaism? And why it happens to be coinciding every time with a Jewish holiday since quite a while? I would like to know about the facts and seek authentic information on this notion if it carries significance.

FYI:

http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-blood-moon-lunar-eclipses-2014-2015

http://unitedwithisrael.org/the-blood-moon-and-jewish-destiny/

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    It's not true that this is a particular omen. The reason it often occurs on Jewish holidays is because blood moons occur during a full moon which is always on the 15th day of the lunar month. The Jewish holidays Pesach and Sukkot occur on 15th day of their respective months.
    – Daniel
    Sep 27, 2015 at 20:23
  • @Daniel, it stinks if you forgot your yontif candles, though (due to the decreased quantity of available light).
    – Noach MiFrankfurt
    Sep 30, 2015 at 12:21

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We ascribe significance to lunar eclipses (Sukkah 29a), of which blood moons are a subset. The reason they occur so often on Jewish holidays is probably because we have holidays on or around the full moon (+- 2 days) half the months of the year: Sukkos, Tu b'Shevat, Purim (and Purim Katan), Pesach, Shivah Asar b'Tamuz, Tu B'Av. Blood moons, as well as all lunar eclipses, can only occur on full moons.

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  • When you say "we only ascribe significance to lunar eclipses (Sukkah 29a), not blood moons", aren't blood moons a subset of lunar eclipses? Your statement precludes that.
    – robev
    Aug 25, 2017 at 12:49
  • I don’t believe they are, actually. Blood moons are refraction of sunlight; lunar eclipses are complete blockages thereof.
    – DonielF
    Aug 25, 2017 at 13:17
  • I'm not sure what you think a lunar eclipse is but a blood Moon is just a term for a tetrad of total lunar eclipses. See the link above and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_eclipse
    – robev
    Aug 25, 2017 at 13:21
  • Let us continue this discussion in chat.
    – robev
    Aug 25, 2017 at 13:30

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