Torah Calendar
10-23 Tammuz, 5785
July 6-19, 2025
For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE
Thursday night-Friday July 10-11 / 15 Tammuz
Yahrzeit of outstanding tzaddik, scholar and kabbalist Rabbi Chaim ben Atar (1696-1743), known as the Ohr HaChayim ("Light of Life") after the title of his commentary on the Torah. Thousands visit his Jerusalem gravesite on the lower slope of Mount of Olives directly opposite the eastern face of Temple Mount, with the assurance that their prayers will not go unanswered.
Friday night-Saturday
July 11-12 / 16 Tammuz
Shabbat BALAK
The Torah reading of Balak Numbers 22:2-25:9 tells the story of Bilaam's abortive efforts to curse Israel at the behest of Balak king of Moab; Haftara: Micah 5:6-6:8.
Sunday July 13
/ 17 Tammuz
FAST OF 17th TAMMUZ
Today we observe the fast of Shiva Asar (=17) B'Tammuz commemorating the sin of the golden calf and the breach of the walls of Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period as well as other tragedies. The fast begins at dawn on Sunday morning and lasts until nightfall.
Today's fast initiates
the period of semi-mourning known
as The Three Weeks or Bein
HaMetzarim ("between
the straits"), culminating
in Tisha Be'Av, the
fast of the Ninth of Av, which
falls this year on Saturday night-Sunday
August 2-3, commemorating the
destruction of the two Temples.
During these three weeks of semi-mourning
it is customary not to celebrate
weddings, listen to music or
cut one's hair. Other stringencies
are added from the beginning
of the month of Av (July 10).
It is proper to devote special times, particularly at midday and midnight,
to mourn the destruction of the Temple. It is also appropriate to study the
laws of the Temple as set forth in Ezekiel
chapters 40 onwards, the Mishnaic Tractate Middot and Hilchot
Beit HaBechirah (Laws of the Temple) in Rambam's Mishneh Torah code.
Monday July 14 / 18 Tammuz
On this day Moses ascended Mount Sinai the second time in order to pray and conciliate G-d after the sin of the golden calf.
Friday night-Saturday
July 18-19 / 23 Tammuz
Shabbat PINCHAS
Torah reading: PINCHAS
Numbers 25:10-30:1; Haftara: Jeremiah
1:1-2:3 first of the three
Haftaras of reproof read during
the Three Weeks.
It is said in the name of the Chozeh of Lublin that through
the power of our joyous celebration of this Shabbat, on which we read the verse "therefore
I give him My covenant of peace" (Numbers 25:12), it is possible to attain
great holiness and accomplish one's complete Tikkun (repair).
Today is Shabbat Mevarchin blessing the coming month of Av.
The Molad (junction of the sun and the moon) will be on Friday July 25 at 10:42
and 5 chalakim A.M. Rosh Chodesh is on Shabbat July 26.
Today is the Yahrzeit of the outstanding kabbalist Rabbi Moshe ben Yaakov Cordovero, "RaMaK" (1522-1570), head of the Safed Mekubalim until the arrival of the ARI. Today is also the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Gedaliah Koenig (1921-80), who established the present-day Breslov community in Safed.