Torah Calendar
12-25 Elul
September 15-28
For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE
Attributes of the month of Elul: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: KEH KEH VAV YOD, contained in the final Hebrew letters of the words of the verse ootzedakaH tihyeH lanOO kI "and it shall be righteousness to us when..." (Deut 6:25). The month's corresponding letter is: YOD; Human attribute: ACTION; Body Part: LEFT HAND ; Tribe: GAD; Constellation: BETULAH (Virgo, the Maiden).
Everyone
who recites Psalm 27, "HaShem
is my light", morning
and evening from the beginning
of Elul until the end of Succot
is assured he will live out
his years in goodness and pleasantness,
and he removes from himself
all the accusing forces and
nullifies all harsh and evil
decrees, and he will win his
case in the Judgment.
-- ARI
Saturday night-Sunday September 14-15 / 12 Elul
Yahrzeit of Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1765-1827), teacher of the Kotzker, Gerer and Izhbitzer rebbes.
Sunday night-Monday September 15-16 / 13 Elul
Today is the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Yosef Chayim of Bagdad (1832-1909), outstanding authority on halachah and master kabbalist, known as the Ben Ish Chai after the title of his compendium of halachah.
As the Day of Judgment draws closer, we should rectify whatever we can -- such as searching our shelves and closets for any borrowed items (e.g. books etc.) that we need to return to their owners.
Friday night-Saturday September
20-21 / 18 Elul
Shabbat Parshat KI TAVO
Torah Reading: KI
TAVO, Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8.
Haftara: Isaiah
60:1-22.
Today is the anniversary of the birthday of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem
Tov (1698-1760), founder of Chassidism, and it was also the date on
which he first revealed himself. Likewise it is the anniversary of the birthday
of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), founder of the
Chabad Lubavitch chassidic movement. Many chassidim customarily hold festive
communal meals to encourage and strengthen each other in following the chassidic
pathway.
Today is also the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yehuda Loewe, the "Maharal" of
Prague (1525-1609), outstanding scholar, mystic and philosopher and
legendary creator of the Golem.
During the Elul season of repentance, Israel are like the inhabitants of a city who go out to greet the King in the fields prior to His entry into the city (on Rosh Hashanah), and now each individual has the opportunity to approach the King in person in advance of the coming Day of Judgment.
Sunday night-Monday September 22-23 / 20 Elul
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi
Avraham ben Naftali Hertz Shternhertz "Kochav
Lev" (d. 1955), grandson
of Rabbi Nosson of Breslov and leading
Breslover elder in Uman and Jerusalem,
Israel.
Today is also the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Cahanman (1886-1969),
the Ponevitcher Rav and founder of the prestigious Ponevitch
Yeshiva, Bnay Brak, Israel, and of Rabbi Mosheh Aryeh Freund (d.
1996), Chief Rabbi of the Eda Charedis of Jerusalem. Both were holocaust survivors
who were instrumental in rebuilding Torah institutions after the war. Today
is also the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler (1872-1970),
outstanding Tzaddik, Mussar teacher and author of Michtav MiEliyahu.
Thursday night-Friday September 26-27 / 24 Elul
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen of Radzin (1838-1933), known as the Chafetz Chaim, famed author of works on the prohibition of evil speech and of Mishneh Berurah on the laws of daily prayer and blessings, Shabbat and festivals.
Friday night-Saturday September
27-28 / 25 Elul
Shabbat Parshat NITZAVIM-VAYELECH
Torah Reading: Deuteronomy
29:9-30:20 and 31:1-30.
Haftara: Isaiah
61:10-63:9, seventh and
last of the Haftarot of Comfort read
between the Fast of Tisha B'Av and
Rosh HaShanah.
This is the last Shabbat of the year, and we should make every
effort to receive this Shabbat with the greatest joy and devotion.
It is customary NOT to bless the coming month in the Synagogue after the Shabbat
Torah reading. This is "in order to outwit the satan" (i.e. not to
alert his attention to the coming Day of Judgment in order to avoid his accusations),
and in any case, the month of Tishri is so holy that it is "blessed in
heaven" instead. However those who have the custom of reciting the entire
book of Psalms on Shabbat Mevorchin also do so on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.
The Molad of Tishri will be on Thursday October 3 at 14:37 (and 12 chalakim)
p.m.
According to the opinion
of Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol, today is the anniversary
of the first of the "Six Days of Creation",
which culminate on the first day of Rosh
HaShanah, the sixth day of Creation, when
Adam was created. On each of these six
days the unique light of the associated
Sefirah shines in all the worlds.
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi
Shimon bar Yochai.
The Holy Zohar states that at the end of days an awesome event will
take place on this date (Balak 212b)