Torah Calendar
13-26 Iyar, 5785
May 11-24, 2025
For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE
Attributes of the month of Iyar: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: YOD KEH KEH VAV, contained in the initial Hebrew letters of Yithalel Hamithalel Haskeil Veyado'a -- "Let him that glories [glory in this, that] he knows and understands [Me]" (Jeremiah 9:23). The month's corresponding letter is: VAV; Human attribute: THOUGHT; Body Part: RIGHT KIDNEY; Tribe: ISSACHAR; Constellation: SHOR (Taurus, the Ox).
This month is particularly conducive to deep contemplation and understanding. It is also conducive to healing since all the sick among the Children of Israel who left Egypt were completely healed in this period in preparation for the Giving of the Torah. Thus the Hebrew name of the month of Iyar is made up of the letters Aleph-Yud-Reish, the initial letters of the Hebrew words Ani YKVK Rophecha, "I HaShem am your Healer" (Exodus 15:26).
Sunday evening-Monday May
11-12 / 14 Iyar
PESACH SHENI
In Temple times those who had been ritually impure or far from Jerusalem at the time of the Pesach sacrifice on 14 Nissan had a second opportunity to bring their paschal sacrifice on Pesach Sheni, "the second Pesach". Today is a semi-festival: the usual Tachanun supplications are not recited in the Synagogue services, and many of those who would normally observe the last of the BeHaB fasts do not do so today. Some celebrate Pesach Sheni by eating Matzot. The most appropriate time to eat the Matzot would be on Monday evening as the Pesach Sheni sacrifice was offered by day and eaten that night at a "Seder" together with Matzot.
Today, Pesach Sheni, is observed as the Yahrzeit of the holy Tanna, Rabbi Meir "Baal HaNess" ("Master of the miracle"), familiar from his teachings throughout the Mishneh. He is buried in Tiberias, Israel.
(The Ohev Yisrael of Apta).
Tuesday May 13 / 15 Iyar
On this day the 30-day supply of Matzot which the Children of Israel took with them out of Egypt came to an end, and when they cried out for food, HaShem sent them the Manna. This is a day to focus on the miracles with which the Almighty provides us with our livelihood, physical and spiritual, and to develop our trust that He will always supply us with everything we need. The practical expression of this trust is when we pray to Him for what we need.
"All medicines come from the earth. Therefore during the season when the earth gives forth her bounty and puts strength into all the trees and plants, i.e. during the month of Iyar when the fruits ripen, all medicinal plants have greater power, because the earth then puts strength into them. However at other times, even if one were to take exactly the same medicines, they would not have the same power. This is why people take medicines in the month of Iyar - May."
Rabbi Nachman, Likutey Moharan I, 277
Thursday night-Friday May
15-16 / 18 Iyar
Lag BaOmer
Today is the 33rd day of the Omer count ("LaG
B'Omer", Lamed=30; Gimmel=3), exactly two thirds
of the way from Pesach to Shavuot, famous as
the day when the plague that had struck Rabbi
Akiva's students ceased in the merit of his
foremost disciple, Rabbi
Shimon bar Yochai. While the other
students failed to show each other due respect,
R. Shimon said, "For me, everything depends
on friendship" (Zohar).Lag BaOmer is observed as the Yahrzeit of R. Shimon -- known as RaShBI -- and in Israel hundreds of thousands flock to his burial cave on Mt Meiron in the northern Galilee. All over the world Jews light bonfires and rejoice in honor of RaShBI, author of the kabbalistic teachings of the Zohar. This is a propitious day for binding ourselves to all the true Tzaddikim and for the study of the secrets of the Torah.
Parents: Please
ensure that your children are under proper supervision if they
light a Lag BaOmer bonfire! |
Friday night-Saturday May 17 / 19 Iyar
Shabbat parshat EMOR
Torah reading: Leviticus 21:1-24:23, including laws relating to the priesthood and the annual cycle of festivals; Haftara: Ezekiel 44:15–31 on the laws relating to the priests of the Future Temple. Pirkey Avot Chapter Four is read after the Minchah service on Shabbat afternoon.
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Riminov, (?-1815), an important Hassidic leader who emphasized the benefit of daily recital of Parshat HaMann (Exodus 16:4-36 about the Manna) accompanied by prayers for livelihood.
Wednesday May 21 / 23 Iyar
Anniversary of the massacre of hundreds of Jews by crusaders in the German town of Worms.
Friday night-Saturday May 23-24 / 26 Iyar
Shabbat Parshat BEHAR & BECHUKOTAI
Shabbat Mevarchin
This Shabbat we read the double portion of Behar (Leviticus 25:1-26:2) dealing with the Sabbatical cycles and Bechukotai (Leviticus 26:3-27:34) setting forth the blessings and curses for keeping or infringing the Torah code.
After the Torah reading we bless the coming month of Sivan,
month of the Giving of the Torah. Rosh Chodesh (the New Moon) will be
on Tuesday night-Wednesday May 27-28. The Molad (junction of the Sun
and the Moon) is on Tuesday May 27 at 9:14 & 3 chalakim AM.
On Shabbat afternoon we read chapter 5 of Pirkey Avot.