Torah Calendar
5-18 Tevet,
5785
January 5-18, 2025
For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE
Attributes
of the month of TEVET: Ruling
permutation of the letters of
HAVAYAH: KEH YOD KEH VAV,
contained in the final Hebrew
letters of the words of the verse [Gadlu]
laYHVH eetY uneromemaH shemO , "[magnify]
HaShem with me, and let us exalt
His name ..." (Psalms 34:4).
The month's corresponding letter
is: AYIN; Human
attribute: ANGER;
Body Part: LIVER;
Tribe: DAN;
Constellation: GEDI (Capricorn,
the Goat).
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Saturday
night-Sunday January 4-5 / 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.
Monday
night-Tuesday January 6-7 / 7 Tevet
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi
Zvi, son of the Baal Shem Tov (d.
1779).
Wednesday
1January 8 / 8 Tevet
Seventy Torah sages produced a translation
of the Torah into Greek (the "Septuagint")
for King Ptolemy, causing three days of darkness to fall upon the world.
Wednesday
night-Thursday January 8-9 / 9 Tevet
Today is the anniversary of the
death of Ezra the Scribe.
Thursday
night January 9 / Eve of 10 Tevet
Tonight and tomorrow is the Yahrzeit
of Rabbi Nosson of Breslov (1780-1844),
outstanding student and scribe of Rebbe Nachman
of Breslov. The Yahrzeit is traditionally
celebrated by the Breslover Chassidim with
a festive meal this evening accompanied with
singing, Torah learning and words of encouragement.
Friday
January 10 / 10 Tevet
The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet is
observed from dawn until nightfall
in memory of Nebuchadnezzar's laying
siege to Jerusalem prior to the destruction
of the First Temple. May we merit to
see the fulfilment of the prophecy
that "...the fast of the tenth
month will be for the house of Judah
for happiness and for joy and for festivals,
and love truth and peace" (Zechariah
8:19). The fast is broken after the
Shabbat evening prayers with the Friday
evening Kiddush and Shabbat meal.
Friday
night-Saturday January 10-11 / 11
Tevet
Shabbat Parshat VAYECHI
Torah Reading: Gen.
47:28-50:26. Haftara: I
Kings 2:1-12.
Parents blessing their children after the
Friday night prayers prior to the Shabbat
evening meal should do so with special
intent tonight as this week's parshah contains
Jacob's blessings to his sons and grandsons,
including the verse with which fathers
customarily bless their sons, "May G-d make you
like Ephraim and Menasheh" (Genesis 48:20). The customary blessing for
girls, "May G-d make you like Sarah and Rebecca, Rachel and Leah" is
also based on this verse.
Sunday
January 12 / 12 Tevet
SHOVAVIM
Today
is the first day of the period of SHOVAVIM named
after the initial letters of the parshiyot
of the coming 6 Shabbatot -- Shemot, Va-eira, Bo, Beshallach, Yitro
and Mishpatim. The name
also refers to Jeremiah 3:14, "Repent,
O backsliding (shovavim) children",
and is also alluded to in the initial Hebrew
letters of the opening words of this week's
parshah, "And these are the names of
the children of Israel who came to Egypt" (Exodus
1:1): "Ve-eleh Shemot Bney Yisrael
haBa'im Mitzrayimah".
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the "ARI", taught that this six week period (especially each Shabbat) is particularly propitious for rectifying the blemishes of the soul, especially in the realm of Yesod (the "foundation", i.e. sexual purity), as well as for prayers to rectify our personality traits, to sanctify our vision and hearing etc. and guard against anger, pride and depression.
Since the whole Shovavim period lasts six weeks=42 days, it is good to add to one's Torah study, "and speak about them" (i.e. about the commandments, Deut. 6:7), ve-dibarta BaM: the numerical value of Beit-Mem is 42. During the Shovavim period, some Breslover Chassidim have the custom of abstaining from all animal-derived foods every Thursday (and in some cases, every Monday as well) except at a circumcision or other mitzva feast.
Friday
night-Saturday January 17-18 / 18
Tevet
Shabbat Parshat SHEMOT
Torah Reading: Exodus
1:1-6:1; Haftara: Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23 (Sephardi
ritual: Jeremiah
1:1-2:3). As we embark on the story
of the Exodus from Egypt, it is proper
to study the weekly parshahs that speak
about this with special attention in
preparation for retelling the story on
the Seder night on the coming festival
of Pesach, less than 4 months away.
Today
is the yahrzeit of Rabbi
Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov (1783-1841),
known as the Bney Yissaschar after
the title of his deep kabbalistic work
on the months, seasons and festivals
of the Torah year, one of the earliest
Chassidic works.