Torah Calendar
27 Tishri-10 Marcheshvan 5786
October 19-November 1, 2025
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Attributes of the month of Tishri: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: VAV KEH YOD KEH, contained in the final Hebrew letters of the words of the verse vayir'U otaH sareY par'oH, "and the ministers of Pharaoh saw her" (Genesis 11:29). The month's corresponding letter is: LAMED; Human attribute: COITION; Body Part: GALL BLADDER; Tribe: JOSEPH; Constellation: MOZNA'IM (Libra, the Scales).
Monday night-Tuesday October 20-21 / 29 Tishri
Today is the anniversary of the death of Shimon HaTzaddik (d. 311 B.C.E.), High Priest in the Second Temple and last of the Men of the Great Assembly (Avot 1:1), whose grave in Jerusalem is visited by great numbers of people on this day.
Tuesday October 21 /29 Tishri
The usual "Yom Kippur Katan" fast and special prayer service preceeding Rosh Chodesh are not observed on the eve of Rosh Chodesh of the months of Cheshvan, Tevet, Iyar and Tishri (ChaT'AT).
Tuesday night-Wednesday
October 21-22 / 30 Tishri
New Moon, Rosh Chodesh CHESHVAN First Day
Ya'aleh VeYavo is added in the evening, morning and afternoon Amidah prayers of Rosh Chodesh and in the Birchat HaMazon Grace after Meals. "Half" Hallel is recited after the morning Amidah prayer, then the Torah is read in the Synagogue followed by the Mussaf Additional Service. It is appropriate to celebrate Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal, and fasting is forbidden.
Attributes of the month of Marcheshvan: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: VAV KEH KEH YOD, contained in the initial Hebrew letters of the words of the verse OOd'vash Hayom Hazeh YKVK, "and honey. This day HaShem..." (Deut 26:15-16). The month's corresponding letter is: NUN; Human attribute: SMELL; Body Part: INTESTINE; Tribe: LEVY; Constellation: AKRAV (Scorpio, the Scorpion).
Wednesday night-Thursday
October 22-23 / 1 Marcheshvan
New Moon, Rosh Chodesh CHESHVAN Second Day
Ya'aleh
VeYavo is added in the evening,
morning and afternoon Amidah prayers
of Rosh Chodesh and in the Birchat
HaMazon Grace after Meals. "Half" Hallel
is recited after the morning Amidah prayer,
then the Torah is read in the Synagogue
followed by the Mussaf Additional
Service. It is appropriate to celebrate
Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal, and
fasting is forbidden.
On this day King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem was completed (I Kings 6:38),
although it was not inaugurated until the following Tishri.
The sum of the mathematical value of the Hebrew letters of Marcheshvan (Mem 40 + Reish 200 + Chet 8 + Shin 300 + Vav 6 + Nun 50 + 1 for the kolel + 6 units for each of the Hebrew letters of the name) is 611, the same as that of the letters of the word Torah (Tav 400 + Vav 6 + Reish 200 + Heh 5 = 611). This is a sign that we should increase our Torah study during the long nights of the winter. |
Friday night-Saturday October
24-259 / 3 Marcheshvan
Shabbat NOAH
Torah Reading: Gen. 6.9-11.32. Haftara Isaiah 54:1-55:5 (Sephardi ritual: Isaiah 54:1-10). After the Torah reading in the synagogue it is customary to bless those who intend to observe the optional BeHaB fasts on the following Monday, Thurday and Monday (see next week's entry).
Monday October 27 / 5 Marcheshvan
First fast of BeHaB
Today is the first of the three optional daytime fasts of BeHaB (signifying days 2, 5 & 2 of the coming 2 weeks, i.e. "Monday-Thursday-Monday") that follow the Succot festival after the end of Tishri. The practice is based on Job 1:5, where after his children's feasting, Job sacrificed to atone for possible inappropriate behavior on their part. Great spiritual gains are available for those able to observe these fasts.
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Piaseczno Rebbe (1889–1943), who was deported from the Warsaw Ghetto and murdered in the Treblinka concentration camp, yet whose writings continue today to shine inspiration to many who practice Torah meditation and self-reckoning.
Tuesday night-Wedneday October
28-29 / 7 Marcheshvan
Start asking for rain: Israel
Starting with the Tuesday night Maariv evening prayer, those who live in Israel begin inserting the request for rain (Ve-tein tal u-matar, "and give dew and rain") in the fifth intermedate blessing of the thrice-daily repeated Shmonah Esray prayer (Bareich aleynu... "Bless this year for us...").
Thursday October 30 / 8
Marcheshvan
Second fast of BeHaB
Today is the second of the BeHaB fasts.
Friday night-Saturday October
31-November 1 / 10 Marcheshvan
Shabbat LECH LECHA
Torah Reading: Gen. 12.1-17.27. Haftara Isaiah Isaiah 40.27-41.1