This Week

Torah Calendar

1-14 Sivan 5780
May 24-June 6, 2020

For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE

Saturday night-Sunday May 23-24 / 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 25 May / 2 Sivan

On this day G-d invited the Children of Israel to be His treasured nation.

Tuesday 26 May / 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 28 May / 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 29 May) 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. For further information on the mitzva of Eiruv Tavshilin click here.

Thursday night-Friday 28-29 May / 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 29-30 May / 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 5-6.

Sunday 31 May / 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.

Friday night-Saturday 5-6 June / 14 Sivan

Important Note: For the coming weeks until Saturday July 4 the Shabbat Diaspora Torah readings are out of sync with those in Israel. This is because the weekly Parshah was not read in Diaspora on Shabbat 30 May since it was observed as the second day of the festival of Shavuot, while in Israel, where only one day of Yom Tov is observed, the weekly Parshah was read on that Shabbat.

Israel: Shabbat Parshat BEHA'ALOSCHA
Torah Reading: Numbers 8:1-12:16 describing the Sanctuary Menorah and narrating how the Israelites began their journey in the Wilderness; Haftara: Zechariah 2:14-4:7 describing Zechariah's vision of the heavenly Menorah.
Diaspora: Shabbat Parshat NASO
Torah reading Numbers 4:21 -7:89 -- the longest parshah in the Torah -- completes 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.
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Chayim of Volozhyn (1749-1821, outstanding student of the Gaon of Vilna).

Saturday night-Sunday 6-7 June / 15 Sivan

Yahrzeit of Judah son of Jacob.

Thursday night-Friday 11-12 June / 20 Sivan

The violent massacres of Jews in France and Germany by the Crusaders reached their climax on this day in 1171, and likewise the Chmielnitzki massacres in Poland-Ukraine reached their climax in 1648-9. Thereafter the Polish communities observed an annual commemorative fast on this day with the recital of special Selichot.

Friday night-Saturday 12-13 June / 21 Sivan

Israel: Shabbat Parshat SHELACH LECHA Torah Reading: Numbers 13:1-15:41 giving the account of the journey of the 12 Spies to the Land of Israel and the sin of the people in accepting the slanderous report of the 10 sinful spies. Haftara: Joshua 2:1-24.

Diaspora: Shabbat Parshat BEHA'ALOSCHA
Torah Reading: Numbers 8:1-12:16 describing the Sanctuary Menorah and narrating how the Israelites began their journey in the Wilderness; Haftara: Zechariah 2:14-4:7 describing Zechariah's vision of the heavenly Menorah.

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