Torah Calendar
6-19 Kislev 5781
November 22-December 5, 2020
For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE
Attributes of the month of KISLEV: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: VAV YOD KEH KEH, contained in the initial Hebrew letters of the words of the verse Vayar Yoshev Ha'aretz Hakena'ani, "and the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw ..." (Genesis 50:11). The month's corresponding letter is: SAMECH; Human attribute: SLEEP; Body Part: KIVAH-Stomach ; Tribe: BENJAMIN; Constellation: KESHET (Sagittarius, the Archer).
Sunday November 22 / 6 Kislev
Just as the festival of Shavuot falls 50 days after Pesach, so it would have been fitting for Shemini Atzeret to be celebrated today, 50 days after Succot, except that this would have been burdensome to Israel, who needed to return home from the Succot pilgrim festival in Jerusalem before the onset of the rainy season. For this reason the Torah placed the actual celebration of Shemini Atzeret one day after Succot. Nevertheless, today has the potential of a festival akin to Shavuot, time of the Giving of the Torah, and is propitious for ascent in Torah and service of G-d.
Tuesday night-Wednesday 24-25 November / 9 Kislev
Today is the birthday and yahrzeit of Rabbi Dov Ber (son of R. Shneur Zalman) of Lubavitch (1773-1827), the second ("Mitteler") Rebbe of the Lubavitch Chassidic movement.
Friday night-Saturday November
27-28 / 12 Kislev
Shabbat VAYEITZEI
Torah reading: Gen. 28:10-32:3. Haftara: Hosea 12:13-14:10 (Optional addition: Micah 7.18) (Sephardi ritual: Hosea 11:7-12:12).
Saturday night-Sunday 28-29 November / 13 Kislev
Today is the yahrzeit of the Talmudic Amora Ravina, who completed the work of his teacher, Rav Ashi, in editing the Babylonian Talmud. Because Ravina's father died young, he was taught Torah by his mother.
Sunday night-Monday 29-30 November / 14 Kislev
Today is the birthday and yahrzeit of Reuven, son of Jacob and Leah.
Monday night November 30-Tuesday December 1 / 15 Kislev
Today is the yartzeit of "Rebbi", Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi (Rabbi Judah "the Prince"), 2nd century author of the Mishnah, direct descendant of Hillel and King David, and head of the Sanhedrin in the time of the Roman Emperor Antoninus, who was his personal friend.
Thursday night-Friday December 3-4 / 18 Kislev
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Baruch of Medzeboz (1757-1810) son of the Baal Shem Tov's daughter Adil and uncle of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. It is also the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Levy Yitzchak Horowitz, the Bostoner Rebbe (1921-2009).
Friday night-Saturday December 4-5
/ 19 Kislev
Shabbat VAYISHLACH
Torah reading: Gen. 32:.4-36:43. Haftara: Obadiah 1:1-21
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch (c.1704-1772), first leader and propagator of Chassidus after the death of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov. Today is also the anniversary of the liberation of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady, founder of Chabad Chassidus, after being imprisoned by the Russian government in St Petersburg on false charges. It is celebrated as a joyous festival and is regarded as "the New Year of Chassidus" when each Chassid wishes the other:"May you be signed and sealed for a good year in the study and ways of Chassidus!". On the same Hebrew date in 2004 the Iraqi tyrant Sadaam Hussein was captured.
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