Torah Calendar
24 Kislev-7 Tevet 5786
December 14-27, 2025
For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE
Saturday night-Sunday December 13-14 / 24 Kislev
Eve of Chanukah
On the Eve of Chanukah it is good to make an early start to the day. One should prepare the Chanukah lamp in good time for candle-lighting. It is also good to have any special Chanukah foods etc. ready before candle-lighting so as to be free to enjoy the lights after they are lit, to sing Chanukah songs, tell about the miracle and celebrate with dear ones.
Today is the anniversary of the prophecy of Haggai (2:10ff) taunting the priests into learning the laws of the Temple and telling Zerubavel, leader of Judah, that the kingdoms of the earth will be overthrown for the sake of Melech Mashiach his descendant.
Sunday night-Monday December
14-15 / 25 Kislev
First light of Chanukah
The preferred times for people to light their Chanukah candles are either a few minutes after sunset as twilight descends, or after nightfall, directly after the evening prayers. Where this is not possible the lights should be lit later in the evening when the most people are likely to see them, since the lights come to publicize the enduring miracle of Chanukah. For laws and customs of the festival, click HERE.
Chanukah is a festival
of thanksgiving for HaShem's
miracles. The special prayer
of thanksgiving for the Chanukah miracles
('Al Hanissim) is
added daily to each Amidah prayer and
Birkhat HaMazon (Grace after Meals).
On each of the days of Chanukah, after
the morning (shacharit) Amidah
prayer, "full" Hallel (Psalms
113-118 without omissions) is recited.
Special Chanukah Torah reading: On
each of the days of Chanukah there
is a special Torah reading selected
from the account of the sacrifices
offered by the Princes of the Twelve
Tribes in celebration of the inauguration
of the wilderness Sanctuary (Numbers
7:1-8:4).
The days of Chanukah are
days of joy. It is forbidden
to fast and it is customary to
hold feasts and to eat some fried
foods (such as doughnuts -- no
need for excess!!!) in memory of
the miracle of the oil, and a milk
or cheese dish in memory of the
heroism of Yehudit, who fed the
Greek general Holfurnos until he
was drowsy and then cut off his
head.
The first day of Chanukah
is the anniversary of the completion
of the Sanctuary in the Wilderness (though
it was not inaugurated until the following
Nissan) -- and when Moses saw that the
work was complete, he blessed the people "that
the Shechinah should rest on the work
of your hands... 'And let the pleasantness
of HaShem our God be upon us, and establish
the work of our hands for us...'" (Psalms
90:17).
In the Second Temple on this day the Altar was reconsecrated by
the Hasmonean priests, who miraculously found one intact flask of undefiled
oil for kindling the Temple Menorah (candelabrum), and although according
to the laws of nature the quantity of oil was sufficient for only one day,
the oil miraculously sufficed for eight days until new ritually-pure oil could
be produced.
Monday night-Tuesday December
22-23 / 26 Kislev
Second light of Chanukah
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham ben David of Posquieres, known as the Raavad (c. 1125-1198), a key link in the chain of the transmission of the Kabbalah and author of the Hasagot (critical glosses) on Rambam's comprehensive Torah law code, the Mishneh Torah. Today is also the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kahn, the Rebbe of Toldos Aharon (d. 1997).
Thursday night-Friday
December 18-19 / 29 Kislev
Fifth light of Chanukah
Today is the Yahrzeit
of R. Avraham b'Reb Nachman Chazan (1849-1917),
outstanding Breslover scholar and author
of Kochvey Ohr and Biur
HaLikutim, a profound commentary
on Rabbi Nachman's Likutey Moharan.
On Friday afternoon, the Chanukah
lights must be lit before sunset,
and they are lit before the Shabbat
candles. It is preferable to pray the
afternoon Minchah service before kindling
the Chanukah lights.
Friday night-Saturday
December19-20 / 30 Kislev
Shabbat Parshat MIKEITZ; Shabbat CHANUKAH
First day of Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Sixth light of Chanukah
At the Friday night Shabbat table many have the custom of singing Ma'oz Tzur and other Chanukah songs. Yaaleh Veyavo for Rosh Chodesh and Al Hanissim for Chanukah are added in the Birchat Hamazon and in the the Shabbat Amidah prayers.
Torah Reading: Mikeitz,
Gen. 41:1-44:17; Rosh Chodesh reading
Numbers 28:9-15 ; Chanukah reading
Numbers 7:42-47; Haftara: Zechariah
2:14-4:7.
In the Synagogue on Shabbat morning three Torah scrolls are
brought from the ark in order to read the weekly portion, the Rosh Chodesh
portion and the special reading for Chanukah from separate scrolls, avoiding
the need to waste the congregation's time while rolling one scroll from section
to section. The Mussaf service is the special Mussaf when Rosh Chodesh falls
on Shabbat with the addition of Al Hanissim. At the conclusion of
the middle blessing of Mussaf, "blessed are You HaShem who sanctifies
the Shabbat, Israel and the New Moons", it is proper have in mind the
permutation of the letters of Havayah for the new month of Tevet (see below).
Saturday night-Sunday
December 20-21 / 1 Tevet
Second day of Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Seventh light of Chanukah
On Saturday night the
Chanukah lights may be kindled only after
nightfall (marked by the appearance of
three medium-size stars). Some have the
custom of lighting the Chanukah candles
before Havdalah, however the prevailing
custom is to light the Chanukah candles
after Havdalah.
Yaaleh Veyavo for Rosh Chodesh
and Al Hanissim for Chanukah
are added in Birchat Hamazon and the
Amidah prayers. For further information
on the laws and customs of Chanukah,
click HERE.
On 1st Tevet Esther was taken to the palace of Achashverosh (Esther 2:16).
Sunday night-Monday December
21-22 / 2 Tevet
Eighth Light of Chanukah
The eighth and last light
of Chanukah takes us beyond the finite
world (encompassed by the seven lower
sefirot) to the higher world of Binah
(Understanding), the eighth level above
Malchut. At the time of the lighting
of the eighth light and for the whole
last day of Chanukah tremendous spiritual
influence flows down to all who are willing
to open themselves to it. In the synagogue
after the morning service, we read the
special reading for the last day of Chanukah
(Numbers 7:54-8:4).
HAPPY CHANUKAH!!!
Tuesday night-Wednesday December 23-24 / 4 Tevet
Today is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Gershon Hanoch-Henich ben Yaakov Leiner, the Rebbe of Radzin (1839-91), known as the Baal Techeiles on account of his research and rediscovery of the Techeiles blue dye for the Tzitzit.
Thursday December 25 / 5 Tevet
"In the tenth month
on the fifth day of the month a fugitive
came to me from Jerusalem to say 'The
city has been struck'" (Ezekiel
33:21).
Today is the anniversary of the martyrdom in Italy of Rabbi Shlomo
Molcho (1500-32), an outstanding prophetic kabbalist and visionary.
Friday night-Saturday
December 26-27/ 7 Tevet
Shabbat Parshat VAYIGASH
Torah Reading: Vayigash, Gen. 44:18-47:27; Haftara: Ezekiel 37:15-2, prophesying the reconciliation between the House of Judah and the Ten Tribes.