Torah Calendar
28 Elul, 5785-12 Tishri 5786
September 21-October 4, 2025
For this week's study schedule & classes, CLICK HERE
Attributes of the month of Elul: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: KEH KEH VAV YOD, contained in the final Hebrew letters of the words of the verse ootzedakaH tihyeH lanOO kI "and it shall be righteousness to us when..." (Deut 6:25). The month's corresponding letter is: YOD; Human attribute: ACTION; Body Part: LEFT HAND ; Tribe: GAD; Constellation: BETULAH (Virgo, the Maiden).
Saturday night-Sunday September 20-21 / 28 Elul
Anniversary of the death of King Saul and his three sons at the battle of Mt Gilboa.
Monday September 22 / 29
Elul
Eve of Rosh Hashanah
It is customary to rise in the small hours of the night for the lengthy pre-dawn Selichot, known as Brit Yitzhak ("the Covenant of Isaac"), the last service of supplicatory prayers before the Day of Judgment. At the conclusion of the morning service, the Shofar is not blown. It is customary to formally annul any vows one may have made: this is done before a Beit Din of three adult males (not necessarily rabbis) according to the formula printed in the Selichot and Rosh Hashanah Machzor. Many fast today until after midday. It is customary to pray at the graves of the Tzaddikim and to give a sum of money to a righteous person for Pidyon Nefesh, "redemption of the soul". There is an ancient custom of purchasing a knife on the eve of Rosh Hashanah as a propitious segulah for livelihood. Where possible males should immerse in a mikveh in preparation for Rosh Hashanah.
"Finished are the old year and its curses! Let the New Year and its blessings begin!" Leshanah Tova Tikatevu Vetichatemu -- May you be inscribed and sealed for a Good Year! |
The Molad of Tishri is on Monday September 22 / 29 Elul at 12:10 and 7 chalakim p.m.
Attributes of the month of Tishri: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: VAV KEH YOD KEH, contained in the final Hebrew letters of the words of the verse vayir'U otaH sareY par'oH, "and the ministers of Pharaoh saw her" (Genesis 11:29). The month's corresponding letter is: LAMED; Human attribute: COITION; Body Part: GALL BLADDER; Tribe: JOSEPH; Constellation: MOZNA'IM (Libra, the Scales).
Monday night-Tuesday September 22-23
/ 1 Tishri 5786
First day of Rosh Hashanah, New Year
Information about the customs of Rosh Hashanah is widely available in the festival prayer books and online (e.g. at chabad.org and torah.org) and details have therefore not been included in this diary.
Today was the sixth day of the Six Days of Creation. The waters of the flood dried and Noah removed the cover from the ark. Sarah, Rachel and Hannah mother of Samuel were all granted children on this day, and Isaac's prayer for Rebecca to give birth was accepted. Sarah was born and died on this day. Isaac blessed Jacob, and Joseph was released from prison. Today is the anniversary of the death from mutilation of Rabbi Amnon of Mainz (author of the Rosh Hashanah prayer Unesanneh Tokef). In 1554 the Talmud and its commentaries were burned in Rome on orders from the pope.
Tuesday night-Wednesday
September 23-24 / 2 Tishri 5786
Second day of Rosh Hashanah
Even though all the other Torah-ordained festivals are celebrated for only one day in Israel while Diaspora communities celebrate them for two days, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for two days even in Israel.
Thursday September 25 /
3 Tishri
Fast of Gedaliah
Today's fast is in memory
of Gedaliah son of Achikam,
Babylonian-appointed governor of Judaea
after the destruction of the First Temple.
His assassination (Jeremiah ch. 41) brought
the last vestiges of Jewish self-rule in
Israel to an end. The fast commences at
dawn on Thursday and is observed until
nightfall. Selichot are recited
today and every weekday until Yom Kippur.
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham Abele Gombiner, the Magen
Avraham (c. 1633-82), author of one of the most important commentaries
on Shulchan Aruch, and of Rabbi Yisrael Lipshitz (1782-1860),
author of the Tiferet Yisrael commentary on the Mishnah.
Friday night-Saturday September
26-27 / 5 Tishri
Shabbat SHUVAH, Parshat VAYELECH
Torah Reading: Deuteronomy
31:1-30. Special Haftara for Shabbat
Shuvah: Hosea
14, 2-10; Michah
7, 18-20; Joel
2, 11-27.
At the Shabbat meals many have the custom of dipping the Challah in honey as
on Rosh Hashanah, and do the same at the festive meals before and after Yom
Kippur, on Succot, Hoshana Rabbah and Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah.
It is customary for the rabbi of the community to deliver a special address
this Shabbat on the theme of Teshuvah (Repentance) and other
timely subjects.
Today is the anniversary of the birth and death of Naftali son of Jacob, and
on this day Rabbi Akiva was imprisoned by the Romans.
Sunday night-Monday September 28-29 / 7 Tishri
Those who have made commitments
to give charity (e.g. for being called
to the Torah reading etc. on the High Holidays)
should be sure to fulfill their commitments
promptly so as not to provide an argument
for the accusing forces on Yom Kippur.
Today is the anniversary of the birth and death of Zebulun son of Jacob.
Everyone
who recites Psalm 27, "HaShem
is my light", morning
and evening from the beginning
of Elul until the end of Succot
is assured he will live out
his years in goodness and pleasantness,
and he removes from himself
all the accusing forces and
nullifies all harsh and evil
decrees, and he will win his
case in the Judgment. |
Tuesday September 30 / 8 Tishri
Today is the anniversary of the start of the seven-day Festival of Inauguration of King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. It is appropriate to read King Solomon's prayer (I Kings ch 8).
Tuesday night-Wednesday September 30-October 1 / 9 Tishri
Eve of Yom Kippur. It is a mitzvah to eat plentifully both on Tuesday night and particularly during the day on Wednesday in preparation for the coming fast. Many endeavor to recite the Erev Yom Kippur Selichot around dawn, following them with Kapparot ("atonements") as found at the beginning of the Yom Kippur Machzor (prayer-book). While the author of the Shulchan Aruch (Rabbi Yosef Karo) was opposed to carrying out Kapparot with chickens (on the grounds that this could degenerate into superstition) and advocated that charity money should be used instead, the author of the glosses (Rabbi Moshe Isserles) defended the use of chickens as an ancient custom. After the ceremony the chickens are slaughtered by a competent shochet and given to the needy.
Since Israel are confident of G-d's forgiveness on the coming Yom Kippur, it is customary to wear festive clothing today. It is customary to eat fish at the morning meal. One should avoid eating cheese and milk dishes, eggs, garlic and sesame (to avoid vain emission of seed). Men customarily immerse in a mikveh, preferably after midday, in preparation for receiving the holiness of Yom Kippur. The afternoon Minchah service includes the full Vidui (confession). Later in the afternoon it is a mitzvah to eat Seudah Hamafseket, the final meal before the fast. This should consist of light foods, and one must cease all eating and drinking shortly before the sunset. The festival candles must be lit before sunset. Prior to leaving the home for the synagogue, parents customarily bless their children with the priestly blessing and any other personal blessings they choose.
Wednesday night-Thursday
October 1-2 / 10 Tishri
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement
Information about the laws,
customs and prayers of Yom Kippur is available
in the Yom Kippur Machzor and on Internet.
Yom Kippur is the anniversary of G-d's complete reconciliation with Israel
after forgiving the sin of the golden calf. On this day Moses concluded his
third forty-day stay on Mt Sinai and descended carrying the second Tablets
of Stone. Yom Kippur is also the anniversary of the martyrdom of Rabbi Akiva
at the hands of the Romans.
After breaking the Yom Kippur fast after nightfall on Thursday night, it is
customary to begin building the Succah (in order to "go from strength
to strength") unless this is impracticable on account of the limited time
available prior to the festival of Succot, necessitating an earlier start.
Friday October 3 / 11 Tishri
Today is called Shem HaShem ("the Name of HaShem", see Likutey Moharan II, 66) since His Name is "completed" through our repentance and atonement on Yom Kippur. On this day, immediately following Moses' final descent from Mount Sinai, he instructed Israel to contribute to the building of the Sanctuary, which is itself a revelation of the Name of G-d. It is appropriate to continue building and preparing the Succah -- which is itself a sanctuary -- as long as this does not interfere with the Shabbat preparations.
During these days between Yom Kippur and Succot it is also necessary to purchase one's Lulav (1 palm branch), Etrog (1 citron), Hadass (3 myrtle branches) and Aravot (3 willow branches) in preparation for the mitzvah of the Four Kinds on the coming festival, though the Aravot should be procured at the last possible moment before the festival since they dry very quickly. (Keeping them wrapped in a damp cloth or aluminum foil in the refrigerator may help delay this.)
Friday night-Saturday October
3- 4 / 12 Tishri
Shabbat HA'AZINU
Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 32: 1-52. Haftara: II Samuel 22:1–51