This week at Azamra
20 Tevet 5785 / 20 January 2025

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).

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.


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