DIARY
16-23 Tevet 5770
1-9 January 2010 Friday night-Saturday January 1-2 / 16 Tevet
Shabbat Parshat VAYECHI
Torah Reading: Gen. 47:28-50:26. Haftara: I Kings 2:1-12.
This Shabbat we complete the reading of the book of Genesis with the story of Jacob's final blessings to his children and grandchildren before departing this life. 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 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.
After the completion of the synagogue Torah reading of Genesis, the congregation customarily declare: "Hazak Hazak Ve-nit-hazek: Strong! Strong! Let us be strong!" Hazak Hazak Ve-nit-hazek!!! Saturday night-Sunday 2-3 January / 17 Tevet
Today is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Yaakov ben Ze'ev Krantz, the Maggid of Dubno (c. 1740-1804), master of didactic stories and parables. Sunday 3 January / 17 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 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.
Some Breslover Chassidim have the custom of abstaining from all animal-derived foods on each Thursday during the Shovavim period. Sunday night-Monday 3-4 January / 18 Tevet
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. Tuesday night-Wednesday 5-6 January / 20 Tevet
Today is the yahrzeit of Rabbenu Moshe ben Maimon, the Rambam -- Moses Maimonides (1135-1204), the world renowned codifier of Torah law, philosopher and healer. Wednesday night-Thursday 6-7 January / 21 Tevet
Today is the yahrzeit of Shimon son of Jacob and Leah. Friday night-Saturday 8-9 January / 23 Tevet
Shabbat Parshat SHEMOT
Shabbat Mevarchin SHEVAT
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, now less than three months away.
After today's Torah reading in the synagogue, we bless the coming month of Shevat, which is next Shabbat, Friday night-Saturday 15-16 January. The Molad ("birth", junction of the sun and the moon) will be on Friday 15 January at 1:43 P.M. and 11 chalokim.
Today is the yahrzeit of Shimon son of Jacob and Leah.
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