Torah Calendar
25 Marcheshvan-9 Kislev 5786
November 16-29, 2025
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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).
Thursday November 20
/ 29 Marcheshvan
Yom Kippur Katan
Today is observed as Yom Kippur Katan ("Small Day of Atonement") in preparation for the coming Rosh Chodesh, the New Moon of Kislev on Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday November 27-29. Some have the custom of fasting from daybreak until nightfall and offering special penitential prayers.
Thursday
night-Friday November 20-21
/
1 Kislev
Rosh Chodesh, New Moon of KISLEV
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 Rosh Chodesh Mussaf Additional Service. It is appropriate to celebrate Rosh Chodesh with festive meals, and fasting is forbidden.
Friday night-Saturday
November 21-22 / 2 Kislev
Shabbat TOLDOS
Torah Reading: Genesis 25:19-28:9. Haftara: Malachi 1:1-2:7.
Sunday November 23 / 3 Kislev
In Second Temple times today was celebrated as a festival because the Hasmoneans cleared the Temple courtyard of Greek idols.
Monday December
24 / 4 Kislev
On this day Zechariah received
his prophecy that the fasts of the fourth,
fifth, seventh and tenth months mourning
the destruction of the Temple will turn
into festivals "...and have love
for truth and peace" (Zechariah
chapters 7-8).
It is propitious to give Tzedakah (charity) today, just as it is a mitzva to
give charity on the eve of the festival of Succot, because today is the first
of three days climaxing on 6 Kislev, which has the potential of a festival
celebrating the giving of the Torah.
Monday night-Tuesday
November 24-25 / 5 Kislev
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Shmuel Eidels, the Maharsha (1555–1631),
outstanding tzaddik and Talmudic commentator.
Wednesday November
26 / 6 Kislev
Just as the festival of Shavuot
falls 50 days after Pesach, so it
would have been fitting for Shemini Atzeret
to be celebrated today, 50 days after
Succot, except that this would
have been burdensome to Israel, who needed
to return home from the Succot pilgrim
festival in Jerusalem before the onset
of the rainy season. For this reason
the Torah placed the actual celebration
of Shemini Atzeret one day after Succot.
Nevertheless, today has the potential
of a festival akin to Shavuot, time of
the Giving of the Torah, and is propitious
for ascent in Torah and service of G-d.
Friday night-SaturdayNovember
28-29 / 9 Kislev
Shabbat VAYEITZEI
Torah reading: Gen.
28:10-32:3. Haftara: Hosea 12:13-14:10 (Optional
addition: Micah 7.18) (Sephardi ritual: Hosea
11:7-12:12).
Today is the birthday and yahrzeit of Rabbi Dov Ber (son of
R. Shneur Zalman) of Lubavitch (1773-1827), the second ("Mitteler")
Rebbe of the Lubavitch Chassidic movement.