Torah Calendar
23 Iyar-7 Sivan, 5786
May 10-23, 2026
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 May 10 / 23 Iyar
Anniversary of the massacre of hundreds of Jews by crusaders in the German town of Worms.
Tuesday night-Wednesday May 12-13 / 26 Iyar
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rav Saadia Gaon (c. 882-942), outstanding Jewish philosopher and defender of the Oral Torah against the Karaites, and of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto ("Ramchal", 1707-46), towering kabbalist of the modern era.
"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 May 14 / 27 Iyar
Today is observed as Yom
Kippur Katan with optional
fasting from dawn till nightfall and
penitential prayers for self-purification
in preparation for the New Moon of
the coming month of Sivan, season of
the Giving of the Torah, which falls
on Sunday May 21.
Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, known as the ShLaH after the initial
letters of the name of his magnum opus Shney Luchot Habrit ("Two
Tablets of the Covenant"), instituted the recital on Erev Rosh Chodesh
Sivan of a special
prayer to be blessed with children and children's children who will go
faithfully in the Torah pathway.
Thursday night-Friday May 14-15 / 28 Iyar
Today is the anniversary
of the death of Samuel the Prophet.
Fittingly, in the merit of the prophet Samuel, it was on this day in the Hebrew
calendar during the Six Day War in the year 1967 that the Holy City of Jerusalem
was reunified, and this great event is celebrated as Yom Yerushalayim ("Jerusalem
Day").
Friday night-Saturday
May 15-16 / 29 Iyar
Shabbat Parshat BAMIDBAR, Shabbat Mevorchin SIVAN
Torah
Reading: Numbers
1:1-4:20; Special Haftara when Rosh
Chodesh falls on Sunday: I
Samuel 20:18-42, "Machar Chodesh".
Shabbat Mevorchin blessing
the coming month of Sivan. Rosh Chodesh
is tonight, Saturday night-Sunday May 16-17.
The Molad (junction of the sun and the
moon) is on Shabbat May 16 at 18:02 & 15
chalakim p.m.
This Shabbat afternoon we read chapter 6 of Pirkey Avot.
Attributes of the month of Sivan: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: YOD VAV KEH KEH, contained in the initial Hebrew letters of Yedotav U-letzela Hamiskan Hasheinit - "...for its tenons and for the second side of the tabernacle..." (Exodus 26:19-20). The month's corresponding letter is: ZAYIN; Human attribute: MOTION; Body Part: LEFT FOOT; Tribe: ZEVULUN; Constellation: TE-OMIM (Gemini, the Twins).
Saturday night-Sunday
May 16-17 / 1 Sivan
Rosh Chodesh New Moon of SIVAN
Add Ya'aleh
Veyavo in evening,
morning and afternoon prayers and
in Grace after Meals. Following the
morning Shacharit prayer, "half" Hallel
and the additional Musaf prayer are
recited. On Rosh Chodesh it is customary
to eat a festive meal with bread.
On this day the Children of Israel encamped before Mount Sinai in preparation
for receiving the Torah.
Monday May 18 / 2 Sivan
On this day G-d invited the Children of Israel to be His treasured nation.
Tuesday May 19 / 3 Sivan
Today is the first of the "three days of separation" (purification) prior to the Giving of the Torah on the coming festival of Shavuot. "During the three days of separation there is a radiation of that same purity that shone in the days before the giving of the Torah" (Shevet HaLevy).
Thursday May 21 / 5 Sivan
Eve of Shavuot
It is
customary to bedeck the synagogue with
flowers and greenery in commemoration
of the Giving of the Torah at Sinai.
This year where possible for those who
will be spending the festival at home,
it would be appropriate where possible
to decorate the home with flowers. It
is customary to prepare milk and cheese
dishes for one or more of the festival
meals.
Eiruv Tavshilin: Since first day Yom Tov of Shavuot (Friday May 22) is followed immediately by Shabbat, in order to cook on Yom Tov day
for the coming Shabbat, it is necessary to prepare Eiruv Tavshilin on
Thursday afternoon prior to the commencement of Yom Tov. Full information
on the mitzva of Eiruv Tavshilin and how to perform it is available here.
Thursday night-Friday May 21-22 / 6 Sivan
Festival of Shavuot, First Day
For full information about
the Festival of Shavuot click
here.
It is customary for those who can do so to remain awake studying
Torah for all or most of the night in preparation for receiving the Torah
anew on Shavuot. It is customary to eat a meal of milk and cheese on Shavuot
morning. Those who follow this with a meal of meat should take care to observe
all the laws relating to the separation of milk and meat (reciting Birkhat
HaMazon after the milk/cheese meal, rinsing/cleansing the mouth, then eating
the meat meal on a separate tablecloth).
The festival of Shavuot is the Yahrzeit of King David and of R. Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760, founder of Chassidism).
Friday night-Saturday May 22-23 / 7 Sivan
Israel: Isru Chag, Shabbat Parshat NASO
In Israel, where only one day Yom Tov is observed, the synagogue Torah Reading this Shabbat follows the normal order of the weekly Parshiyot: NASO, Numbers 4:21 -7:89 -- the longest parshah in the Torah -- completing the account of the duties of the Levites, giving certain commandments including the law of the Sotah (unfaithful wife) and Nazirite, and describing the inauguration of the Wilderness sanctuary. Haftara: Judges 13:2-25.telling the story of the birth of Samson, who was a Nazirite.
Diaspora: Second day of Festival of Shavuot
Since today is observed in Diaspora as Second Day Yom Tov, the Torah reading is the Yom Tov reading of Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17, and the Parshah read today in Israel will be read in Diaspora communities next Shabbat, June 9-10.
Sunday May 24 / 8 Sivan
Diaspora: Issru Chag
On Issru Chag, the day after the conclusion of the festival, it is customary to wear festive clothing and eat a festive meal to allow the joy of Yom Tov to linger with and strengthen us as we return to our weekday lives.