DIARY
16-24 May 2008 / 12-19 Iyar 5768
Friday night-Saturday 16-17 May / 12 Iyar
Shabbat Parshat BEHAR:
Torah Reading : Leviticus 25:1-26:2 giving the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years and the laws of sale of property; Haftara: Jeremiah 32:6-27 promising that lands will again be bought and sold in the Land of Israel.
On Friday night after Kabbalat Shabbat before the Maariv (evening) service, many congregations have the custom of chanting the song Bar Yochai in honor of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, author of the holy Zohar, whose Yahrzeit (death anniversary) falls next Friday on Lag BaOmer.
Friends in Jerusalem are invited to join Reb Avraham and family in celebrating the barmitzvah of our youngest son, which falls this Shabbat. For details contact rebavraham@azamra.org. Mazal Tov!!!
On Shabbat afternoon we read chapter 3 of Pirkey Avot.
Monday 19 May / 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.
| The lesson of Pesach Sheni is that even if we fail to put things right the first time, G-d gives us a second chance!!! |
Today is 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.
Tuesday 20 May / 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.
Thursday night-Friday 22-23 May / 18 Iyar
Lag BaOmer
This is the 33rd day of the Omer count (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 the Yahrzeit of R. Shimon -- known as RaShBI -- and 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 23-24 May / 19 Iyar
Shabbat Parshat BECHUKOSAI:
Torah Reading : Leviticus 26:3-27:34, containing the rewards for keeping the Torah and the punishments for failure to do so. With today's reading we conclude the book of Leviticus -- Hazak Hazak Venit-Hazek!!! Haftara: Jeremiah 16:19-17:14.
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. On Shabbat afternoon we read chapter 4 of Pirkey Avot. |
